Expansive co-op development emerging in Toronto promises affordable and premium housing options - in vibrant color schemes.
Journeying Towards a Rainbow of Homes: The Scarborough Co-op Housing Venture
Step aside, monotonous buildings; vibrant, Technicolor dreams are coming to Scarborough! The designs of a colossal new housing development, nestled beside the Kennedy GO station, bear an uncanny resemblance to a jubilant game of Connect Four. Multiple towers boast cascading circles of tinted concrete, adorned in hues of yellow, orange, blue, and red, encasing hundreds of glistening windows. The architects envision a lush, expansive base beneath these structures, boasting areas for community gatherings, gardens, and wildlife habitats.
The peculiar design of 2444 Eglinton Ave. East serves as a radical departure from the cookie-cutter buildings habitually constructed in bustling cities. According to principal architect Gregory Henriquez, "too much haste leaves too little room for quirky, unexplored things to flourish," and this vibrant proposal injects some much-needed uniqueness into the urban landscape. Henriquez confidently asserts that even if the bold design evokes strong opinions, the aim is to create attractive, dynamic living spaces that appeal to residents.
The buzzworthy Scarborough development is the brainchild of city officials, Civic Developments, Windmill Developments, and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto. Urban planners laud this development as an exciting breakthrough, with city officials predicting it to be one of Ontario's largest co-ops and the first of its kind in many years.
Cooperatives could access generous government aid during the 1970s and '80s but struggled to secure funding from various programs and administrations in the subsequent decades, resulting in a sluggish growth within the sector. However, a renewed interest in cooperative housing has been observed, with city hall's latest housing blueprint pinpointing a need for subsidized, non-profit, and cooperative housing solutions. The federal government has also unveiled a $1.5 billion commitment to fostering cooperative housing developments, receiving 51 applications for these funds in 2024, including the Scarborough cooperative team, who are eagerly awaiting a response amidst the federal election delay.
Following economics-driven design choices, the architects employ a repeating mold for the concrete circles, ensuring budget efficiency. Above-grade parking on the second and third levels is planned due to ground contamination, elevating residential units above the busy street.
The Scarborough property is one of the most challenging sites Henriquez has taken on, with its labyrinth of railway lines, fast-paced vehicle traffic on Eglinton, and frequented shortcuts people use to access local shopping centers. These factors have influenced the design, with a new road intended to serve as a unique space for residents, visitors, and local patrons, while bolstering Scarborough's burgeoning food industry with small, boutique-oriented retail spaces.
CCxA, a Montreal-based design firm founded by the late Claude Cormier, is renowned for creative landscape work—most notably, Toronto's whimsical Berczy Park—and will be involved in beautifying the Scarborough project. The aim is to create a seamless transition between the bustling road and the verdant expanse behind the building, fostering a sense of tranquility and community.
Following years of absence in the co-op housing sector, Henriquez embraces this project with an air of responsibility. Not only does the cooperative model create a rich, diverse living environment, but its recent resurgence is palpable. "Cooperative housing is something that's starting to gain ground again, but it hasn't been explored much in recent times," Henriquez acknowledges.
- The Scarborough Co-op Housing Venture, located near Eglinton Ave. East, aims to replace the monotony of standard buildings with Technicolor dreams.
- The new housing development in Scarborough, reminiscent of a vibrant game of Connect Four, will introduce unique, quirky living spaces that contrast traditional designs.
- The latest housing development in Scarborough is a joint effort by city officials, Civic Developments, Windmill Developments, and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto.
- The bold and peculiar design of 2444 Eglinton Ave. East is expected to inject some excitement into the urban landscape, drawing strong opinions and attracting residents.
- Despite challenges in securing funding over the decades, there has been a renewed interest in cooperative housing, with increased support from both city hall and the federal government.
- The architects of the Scarborough development have employed budget efficiency techniques, such as a repeating concrete mold, to keep costs under control and meet the project's financial requirements.
- The Scarborough project plans to improve upon the local food industry by creating small, boutique retail spaces for a burgeoning food industry, while providing a unique space for residents, visitors, and local patrons.
- A Montreal-based design firm, CCxA, known for their creative landscape work, will help transform the Scarborough project, fostering a seamless transition between the busy road and the green expanses behind the building.
