CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION
PROJECT PROFILE
Gower Park Place
East York, Ontario
Highlights
Gower Park Place, a 164-unit affordable apartment building in East York
built in 1994, is a model of community integration that benefits both tenants
and neighbours.
Client group: Seniors, singles and families
Developer: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Number of units: 164 (mix of bachelor and one-, two- and
three-bedroom apartments)
Tenure: Rental, 75 per cent with rents geared to income and 25 per cent
at market rates
Who was involved? VincentPaul Family Homes Corporation, Society of
St. Vincent de Paul, Toronto Central Council, Government of Ontario
25-10-12
Taking a “community integration
approach” to affordable housing can
rejuvenate older neighbourhoods and
provide benefits to the entire community.
A good example of this approach is
Gower Park Place in East York, Ontario.
Today, it remains a model of community
partnership where tenants and their
families can thrive.
Gower Park Place is a seven-storey
building with 164 apartments, the majority
set at affordable rates. The building is
owned by VincentPaul Family Homes
Corporation and was sponsored by the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Toronto
Central Council.
Designed with the neighbourhood and
residents in mind, Gower Park Place has
a community centre, open courtyard,
playground and attractive landscaping.
Wide hallways, a well-lit parking garage
and a large main floor laundry room
encourage socializing, ensure tenant
safety and reduce vandalism. Community
programming and special events engage
both tenants and neighbours.
“The neighbourhood wanted a
community centre, and we needed
affordable housing,” said project founder
Nick Volk. “We put in both. It opened in
1994 to some doubt and a fair amount of
acclaim,” he added.
Project Profile—Gower Park Place
“We made a conscious effort to make
the building as attractive as possible to
encourage people in their daily lives,”
Volk added. “We decided on a mix of
suites that would fit within the space
and be most encouraging for the families
living there.”
Gower Park Place received $23 million
in provincial funding and was constructed
on a 0.6-­hectare (1.5-acre) site formerly
occupied by a warehouse and strip
mall. The project earned an Award
for Excellence from the Ontario
Non-Profit Housing Association in
2000 for “responding to tenant and
community needs with imagination
and insight.” It was also recognized
for its attractive landscaping with a
Mayor’s Award in 1995.
The Affordable Housing Solution
Gower Park Place has a mix of bachelor
and one-, two- and three-bedroom
apartments in various layouts to
accommodate a variety of family sizes
and needs. Twenty-five per cent of the
apartments are rented at market rates.
The building and grounds are fully
accessible. Amenities include a common
living room, library/meeting room,
small community room, laundry facility,
recycling room and on-site offices. There
is one level of underground tenant and
visitor parking, with bicycle parking in
front of the building.
A partnership with the City’s Parks
and Recreation Department offers
programs at Gower Park Place in
exchange for free use of the community
space. The neighbourhood benefits from
a community centre, with recreational
and education programs for children,
teens and adults. While some city
programs have since expanded to
other locations in the community,
CMHC Contact
Contact a representative of CMHC’s Affordable Housing Centre
www.cmhc.ca/contactahc
the space continues to be used for
support groups, youth drop-in,
churches and local agencies.
The project’s sponsor, the Society
of St. Vincent de Paul, offers on-site
support for tenants, consistent with
its goal of helping people lead fully
independent, satisfying and self-sustaining
lives. Weekly “coffee and chat” programs
help reduce isolation and build
community connections.
For the last 18 years, Gower Park Place
has organized an annual fair that attracts
neighbours, elected officials and
community groups with a yard sale,
displays, entertainment and refreshments.
The meeting room is used as a polling
station, and civic engagement is further
encouraged with residents serving on
city committees and neighbourhood
advisory groups.
Marisa Dodaro has been on staff since
the building opened. In addition to
property management and administration,
she focuses on community development.
Over the years, she’s seen many tenants
move on to purchase homes. She has
also provided references for tenants
applying for university scholarships.
Former tenants often return to visit
friends in the building.
“We try to make people feel at
home,” she said. “The building has a
lot of common space where tenants
can meet informally. We try to identify
activities and events that people are
interested in; we find ways to bring
people together and encourage them
to know their neighbours.”
Steve Tyson has lived at Gower Park
Place for 15 years. Prior to the move,
Tyson lived in what he called a “cookie
cutter” apartment that was very
impersonal. “I lived there for five years
and didn’t know a person in the building.”
“They treat people well here and create
the possibility of having dignity. Living in
a clean, decent place makes a difference.
All of the kids here have graduated from
high school, and most have gone on to
college or university. A good number of
my neighbours have moved on to buy a
house. I’ve seen real examples of what
happens when you give people a chance.”