Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto Community Housing Corp. (TCHC) has released updated plans for the redevelopment of Swansea Mews, a 1970s-era public housing complex near High Park that has been vacant since 2022. The proposed project will transform the site into one of the city’s largest new publicly-owned housing communities, with about 700 rental units in two highrise buildings.
The latest development proposal, prepared in partnership with Bousfields Inc., KPMB Architects, and PFS Studio, would be a major increase in density compared to the original 154-unit townhouse development. Conceptual designs presented during a virtual community meeting in September show a 35-storey tower at the corner of Windermere Avenue and The Queensway, built on a podium, as well as a second building to the north with a stepped profile ranging from five to 20 storeys. Together, the two structures would accommodate 673 rental homes.
The north building is designed around a landscaped central courtyard, a feature intended to create a safe, open gathering space.
According to PFS Studio, the courtyard will be “highly visible, with many eyes looking into the space to provide a sense of safety.” Additional outdoor and green spaces are planned throughout the complex and commercial space is included along The Queensway. The plans also include a new structured parking facility with 140 spaces.
The new proposal was designed with input from architects and urban designers leading to the current two-building plan. The project is seen as aligning with the city’s broader housing strategy, which calls for maximizing the potential of existing public housing sites.
TCHC is expected to submit a rezoning application by November. If approved, the Swansea Mews redevelopment will be one of the largest public-sector residential projects underway in Toronto.
With a combination of towers, mid-rise buildings, open space, and street-level amenities, Swansea Mews will represent a significant change to its neighbourhood character. At full build-out, there will be more than four times the number of homes previously on the site.
