Toronto Breaks Ground on Kennedy Green, Canada’s Largest Co-Op Housing Development in a Generation
Kennedy Green co-op housing marks Toronto’s largest new co-op build in a generation, bringing affordable, sustainable homes to Scarborough.
SCARBOROUGH — The City of Toronto has officially broken ground on Kennedy Green, a landmark 612-unit co-operative housing development that municipal leaders say will set a new national standard for affordable, sustainable, mixed-income communities.
Mayor Olivia Chow was joined today by Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, Councillor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre), and senior City staff to celebrate the start of construction on the largest co-op housing project built in Canada in decades.
The development is located at 2444 Eglinton Ave. E., adjacent to Kennedy GO and Kennedy Station, on land previously used for commuter parking.
A Major Step Forward for Co-Op Housing in Toronto
Kennedy Green will deliver 612 new homes, including affordable and market rent-controlled co-operative housing units. The project is funded through the Government of Canada’s Co-operative Housing Development Program, in partnership with the City of Toronto.
The site is one of nearly 100 City-owned properties that have been identified as housing-ready or suitable for unlocking future development opportunities. The project includes:
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Two co-op buildings
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A mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments
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474 sq. m of community space
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332 sq. m of retail space
The development is being delivered through a partnership between the City, CreateTO, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT), and development management led by Civic Developments and its partners.
City of Toronto breaks ground on Canada’s largest co-op housing development in a generation.
News release: https://t.co/LJRl7Rm68e pic.twitter.com/xcKFj5an7b
— City of Toronto 🇨🇦 (@cityoftoronto) November 28, 2025
Record-Fast Approvals & National Design Recognition
City officials highlighted Kennedy Green as an example of Toronto’s efforts to accelerate housing delivery. The project’s re-zoning application was approved in just 69 days, made possible through collaboration between CreateTO, City Planning, and the developer group.
Kennedy Green’s all-Canadian design team includes Henriquez Partners Architects (Vancouver) and CCxA (Montreal), whose work has received international recognition — including the Future Homes Award for Mixed-Use Buildings and the 2025 Green Good Design Award for Green Architecture.
The project features a geothermal energy system and meets Toronto Green Standard Version 4, Tier 2, supporting the City’s climate action commitments. It is also Toronto’s first housing development to be delivered under the One Planet Living Framework, which promotes long-term sustainability.
Supporting Toronto’s HousingTO Plan
Kennedy Green contributes directly to the City’s HousingTO 2020–2030 Action Plan, which targets:
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65,000 new rent-controlled homes, including
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41,000 affordable rental homes
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6,500 rent-geared-to-income homes
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17,500 rent-controlled homes
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Investment from the City exceeds $35 million, demonstrating Toronto’s continued prioritization of affordable housing despite rising development pressures and population growth.
What Leaders Said
Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the significance of the milestone:
“The City of Toronto is breaking ground on Kennedy Green, the largest co-operative housing development in Ontario and one of the largest in Canada. This project will deliver 612 new homes in Scarborough, including affordable and market rent-controlled co-op units.”
MP Salma Zahid highlighted the federal contribution:
“The Kennedy Green Co-op will make a real impact on lives for our community here in Scarborough, and it’s another step forward in our bold, ambitious plan to build Canada strong.”
Councillor Michael Thompson said the development meets the growing needs of Scarborough:
“It promises 612 new homes, set in a mixed-use neighbourhood and a transit-oriented community.”
Vic Gupta, CEO of CreateTO, praised the project’s pace and collaboration. CHFT Executive Director Tom Clement noted that Kennedy Green “sets a new standard for co-op housing in Canada.”
Kennedy Green is expected to become a blueprint for future co-operative housing developments across the country, combining affordability, sustainability and community-oriented design at a scale not seen in decades.
Source: City of Toronto — Official News Release, November 28, 2025
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