Housing Proposal at Parkdale Queen West Health Centre at 1229 Queen Street West
Seeking participation at community engagement meeting
Project Overview
Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (PQWCHC) is a community-based health services organization working to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities with a focus on people who are at risk and/or who face barriers to accessing high-quality health care services and support.
In Toronto, housing costs continue to grow, and an increasing number of people are being driven into poverty and homelessness, and South Parkdale is no exception. Indeed, this neighbourhood consistently measures higher than the City of Toronto on a variety of housing need indicators including unsuitable housing (15.9% of households in South Parkdale compared to 12.1% in the City of Toronto), unaffordable housing (49.2% compared to 36.6%), and inadequate housing (10.9% compared to 7.1%). Additionally, the neighbourhood sees approximately 49% of households spend over 30% of gross income on housing, compared to 37% for the City of Toronto. One of the key challenges that many PQWCHC clients face is the lack of quality affordable housing, without which improvements in health and well-being are often impossible.
The first step in addressing PQWCHC clients’ social care and health challenges is addressing their housing needs. Therefore, PQWCHC is planning to build fifty-eight (58) units of safe, accessible, permanent deeply affordable housing at its Parkdale location at 1229 Queen Street West.
About Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre
Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre offers programs and services at its three main locations at 168 Bathurst Street, 1229 Queen Street West, and 27 Roncesvalles Avenue. In addition to primary health care, these services include dental care, harm reduction, health promotion, counselling, community development programming, and cultural programming for Indigenous clients. In addition, PQWCHC offers primary health care services and harm reduction information, education, and supplies at several additional locations including mobile outreach to people living on the street.
PQWCHC is seen as a leader in the sector and sheltering system, delivering innovative programs in response to the unique needs of populations that otherwise would not get support, including people with mental health and substance use issues, and those living on the street.
The Proposed Development
The proposed development will add fifty-eight (58) new deeply affordable and accessible permanent housing units to the Parkdale location by building on a portion of the site’s parkette as well as spanning above the existing three-story health-centre facility, for a total of seven stories. The seventh floor will feature a rooftop green space to support environmental sustainability over the long term. The building interior will include mostly one-bedroom units, as well as a small number of stud
io and two-bedroom units, all with access to natural light. In addition, the expansion will include amenity space both for the organization and for tenants and space for support services to be delivered by onsite community partners.
See the design Package here: PQWCHC 7th Floor Scheme
Project Team
PQWCHC – Non-Profit Affordable Housing Owner
Hilditch Architect Inc. – Project Architect
SHS Consulting – Development Consultant
Project Timeline
Below are the estimated key project milestone dates for the proposed project:
- Planning Application Submission – Summer 2023
- Target Construction Start – Mid 2024
- Grand Opening – Early 2026
Information Sessions and Community Consultation
Please join us for an open house information session to learn more about our proposed plans for creating much needed affordable, supportive housing in Parkdale and provide feedback on the initial concept plans and the supports needed in the community
We are seeking your feedback on:
- Your thoughts on the proposed concept
- Your vision for the affordable housing to be developed here
- Amenities/spaces that you would like to see provided in the affordable housing development
- Current housing and support needs for Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre’s clients and/or the local community
Contact Us!
If you have questions or comments, please contact our team at housing@pqwchc.ca