By Sean Delaney
It was a splash when many from the Emery community, along with all three levels of government, celebrated the grand opening of a new affordable rental building at Weston Rd. and Finch Ave, Wednesday, May 17.
With major transit improvements on the horizon in the form of the Finch West LRT line, developer Medallion Corporation is in the process of bringing a significant boost in density to the Weston and Finch intersection in Toronto’s Emery Village neighbourhood. The first phase of the nine building Casa-Emery Village rental development is almost complete and all had a chance to see first hand the beautiful construction. Two new towers will soon join the community in the second phase. These 30- and 26-storey towers will rise to the east of the existing buildings, divided by a new street that connects Finch Avenue West with the interior of the site.
The Casa Emery development has been in the works for many years.
Ward 7 Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti has been an integral part of the development from the very beginning working closely with the Medallion Corporation management team and owners, the Bleeman Family.
Councillor Mammoliti said he was pleased all levels of government came together to support and celebrate the opening of Casa Emery.
”We need a united commitment across all levels of government, sectors, and community to build and maintain our affordable and social housing in our area,” Mammoliti said.
The Councillor was part of the Executive Committee, where on Jan. 24, 2012, he oversaw an approved motion for the development.
City Council reallocated $16.4 million from the New Affordable Rental component and $19.6 million from the Housing Allowances component to the Medallion Corporation for up to 360 units of affordable rental housing at 3415 Weston Road/ 2435 Finch Avenue West. The project was recommended by Toronto City Council for federal/ provincial economic stimulus funding at the council meeting in Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2009.
For Councillor Mammoliti, the completion of these first phases is more than just a simple construction project.
This landmark development and investment are only one of many visions that became part of a future development plan to upgrade Emery and move the community forward. Green space, retail stores and a common meeting place for residents were all part of his vision for this residential area reclaimed from a declining commercial area. This is just a start of many new and exciting developments that will come Emery’s way in the next years ahead.
With 234 units in the first Building and an additional 280 units in the next, this second phase of development would add 514 new homes to the planned community.
When the development is completed, the nine-building community will contain a total of approximately 1,717 residential units, as well as a landscaped piazza at the centre of the site.
Two new streets will also be created, with the names “Zappacosta Drive and” “Vena Way” currently approved by the City of Toronto.
Please check inside for more information on these new streets.