The Story of Maynard Avenue

May 01, 2019

The Land Trust Preserves and Protects an at-risk Bachelorette building in Parkdale!

We are happy to announce that the Land Trust, in close partnership with PARC, has acquired a 15 unit at-risk licenced bachelorette building in Parkdale!  – Read the Toronto Star front page feature and CBC story.

Championed by City Councillor Gord Perks, funding for this project has come from the City of Toronto Rooming House Acquisition Pilot Program, providing $1.5 million in municipal funding for the acquisition, coupled with a further $601,426 from Ontario Renovates for building improvements.

Against huge odds, we have removed this property from the speculative real estate market. We have done this to ensure that the tenants of this building will be safe from harassment, above-guideline rent increases and renovictions.

Most importantly, this success will ensure that existing tenants, many of whom are low-income, will continue to enjoy affordable rental housing. Additionally, for any new tenants being considered in the future, priority will be given to those who have experienced homelessness.

The acquisition is the first affordable housing project of the land trust. In this inaugural project, we are very happy to announce that we have committed to guaranteeing affordable rents in perpetuity.

Finally, this 15-unit Parkdale property will be owned by the Land Trust but will be operated and managed by PARC, (a United Way Anchor Agency), which now provides 71 units of affordable housing for adults who are low-income and or experience mental health and addictions challenges in South Parkdale.

This project is also the result of an incredible mobilization of energy by Parkdale residents. We are working together to fight injustice and build a more equitable City. We are working together to defend our amazing community from an all-out attack by predatory corporate landlords. We are working together to defend our homes and our lives. We are fed up and we getting more and more organized every day!

Thank you to all the Parkdale residents and allies who have contributed to this project as a volunteer, a donor and supporter!

Download the press release here.

Thank you to our funders:

• City of Toronto
• Ontario Renovates
• Government of Ontario’s Local Poverty Reduction Fund, with administrative support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation
• Maytree
• Catherine Donnelly Foundation
• Cota