Item - 2020.PH16.9

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council authorize up to 303 affordable rental units to be constructed on the lands known as 1250 Markham Road be eligible for waivers of planning application, building permit and parkland dedication fees, and development charge exemptions.

2.  City Council authorize an exemption from taxation for municipal and school purposes for 50 years, for the 303 affordable rental units to be constructed on the lands known as 1250 Markham Road.

3.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of the City, a municipal housing facility agreement (the "Contribution Agreement") with Global Kingdom Ministries for the development of the affordable housing to be constructed on the lands known as 1250 Markham Road, to secure the financial assistance being provided and to set out the terms of the operation of the new affordable rental housing, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and in a form approved by the City Solicitor.

4.  City Council authorize City staff to cancel or refund any taxes paid after the effective date of the municipal capital facility agreement.

5.  City Council authorize severally each of the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to execute, on behalf of the City, any security or financing documents required by Global Kingdom Ministries to secure construction and conventional financing and subsequent refinancing, including any postponement, tripartite, confirmation of status, discharge or consent documents where and when required during the term of the municipal housing facility agreement, as required by normal business practices, and provided that such documents do not give rise to financial obligations on the part of the City that have not been previously approved by Council.

6.  City Council authorize the City Solicitor to execute, postpone, confirm the status of, and discharge any City security documents registered as required by normal business practices.

This report recommends that City Council approve Open Door incentives for up to 303 affordable rental homes for seniors to be created at 1250 Markham Road. The project is proposed to be developed by Global Kingdom Ministries Inc. (Global Kingdom Ministries), a 65 year old charitable, federal corporation, affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, which operates a broad range of services for seniors in the Scarborough area.

The new affordable rental homes to be developed at 1250 Markham Road will remain affordable for a minimum of 50 years and will be part of a larger mixed-income, mixed-use development. The project has been designed to be energy efficient and will include a significant number of fully accessible units. Global Kingdom Ministries will also partner with various community organizations and health care providers to deliver a combination of housing and clinical and non-clinical support services onsite which promote “aging in place". In addition to the 303 affordable rental homes, 302 market rental homes are proposed to be developed at the site.

The Open Door incentives recommended for Council approval will assist the Global Kingdom Ministries in providing affordable housing options to low-and-moderate-income seniors, including women, persons with disabilities and those from equity-seeking groups. Approval of this project will also contribute towards the delivery of the City's HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan which includes targets to increase the supply of affordable, accessible and good quality homes for seniors.