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The documentÌýproposes to replace what is currently a 175,000-square-foot community made up of about 150 townhouses with a brand-new complex of up to 695,000 square feet thatÌýwould see the existing rent-geared-to-income homes replaced while addingÌýbetween 550 andÌý700 new units.

The fate of Swansea Mews has been unclear since May 2022, when a concrete ceiling collapsedÌýonto a tenant and sent them to hospital. Engineers then discovered faults in other townhome ceilings, and the entire community was forced out. Tenants have since been scatteredÌýto different housing complexes across the city.Ìý

The new report is the first glimpse at the promised rebuild. It outlines several broad goals, including up to 20,000 square feet of community, commercial or amenity spaces, more parkland, a new internal road, and new economic development programs for local tenants. If all goes smoothly, the report suggestsÌýdemolitionÌýof the existing complexÌýcould beginÌýby early 2026.

The proposal envisions three blocks of housing, where the existing community consists of nine blocks of four-storey townhouses. The three blocks would be different sizes, with the densest building at the corner of Windermere Avenue and the Queensway, a mid-sized building in the centre, and a smaller building on the northern end of the property as it gets closer to nearby lowrise homes.

Many details,Ìýhowever,Ìýare still hazy. While the planÌýrecommits to replacing 154 public housing units, it does not specify what kind of new housing could be built, including their affordability and ownership.ÌýThe report says staff need TCHC’s board and city council to approve the pitch before they begin to pursue details likeÌýfunding from government programs and non-profit partnerships.

TCHC’s report says 115 of the 154 townhomes were occupied at the time of the ceiling collapse, with 108 householdsÌýmaintaining their right to return once the complex is rebuilt.

Sharon Smith, a displacedÌýtenantÌýwho hopes to return, is pleased with the increased density goals and hopes to see as many of the new units as possible housing low-income Torontonians. “It’s great. It’s a prime location,” she said.

She also hopesÌýformer tenants have a clear voice in shaping the new community, suggesting a committee to advocate for needsÌýsuch as basketball courtsÌýfor its youth,Ìýand smooth the transition back.Ìý

In a recent letter to tenants, which Smith shared, TCHC notedÌýthose households included anyone who signed a relocation agreementÌýafter the collapse, but also said tenants’ right to return depended on “if there are units that match your household composition at the time” —ÌýwhichÌýconcerned Smith.

City councillor Gord Perks, whose Parkdale-High Park ward includes Swansea Mews, said he hadn’t heard that caveat before. “I’m committed to everyone who lost their housing getting their housing back if they want,” Perks said.

TCHC, asked about that condition, said it was aware household sizes may have changed by the time a rebuild is done, meaning the size of unit needed would be different.

“By replacing all the units we demolish and adding net-new units, TCHC’s goal is to account for the changes in size that families may experience over time and protect their right to return by offering units that meets their household needs at the time of return,” spokesperson Robin Smith said.Ìý

The proposal still has many hurdles to clear, including a consultation process, with Perks saying that funding and financing remainÌýkey questions. His hope is to see the property stay entirely in public hands, rather than having parcels sold to developers.

“I’ve been very clear in talking to staff from TCHC that I’ll support something that keeps the land in public or social ownership.”