Breaking New Ground: The Cedars Brings Cooperative and Attainable Housing Back to Toronto

Last week, we joined our client Options for Homes to celebrate a milestone moment for affordable housing in Toronto: the groundbreaking of The Cedars, a mixed-income, mixed-tenure community that will bring 783 new homes to Scarborough Village.

The event drew a full crowd and powerful voices, including Mayor Olivia Chow, CreateTO CEO Vic Gupta, and Options for Homes CEO Daniel Ger. Each spoke to a shared belief that building truly affordable, people-centered housing requires collaboration, creativity, and care.

A turning point for cooperative housing

Mayor Olivia Chow called the day a “return of cooperative housing after 27 years.” She reminded the crowd that Toronto once worked for working families, when a steady job meant being able to rent or buy close to where you work.

“The Cedars is the result of a different choice,” she said. “One where the City, our nonprofit partners, and future residents work together to create something better.”

Located near Markham Road and Eglinton Avenue East, The Cedars will deliver 245 co-op rental homes in its first phase, with 20 percent meeting the City’s definition of affordable rent and the remaining 80 percent rent-controlled at 80 to 90 percent of average market rent. Rents will remain stable for 50 years, giving residents the security to build long-term roots and community.

A partnership built on purpose

Options for Homes is one of Canada’s leading non-profit housing developers, known for creating attainable homeownership opportunities through its innovative down-payment support model. Its projects help people and families build equity and stability, while ensuring affordability remains at the heart of every community it develops.

“We don’t build for investors, we build for people,” said Ger. “Affordability should never come at the cost of quality or dignity.”

The Cedars represents the future of attainable living in Canada and a continuation of that mission. The full community will include nearly 800 new homes across four towers and two blocks of townhomes, anchored by a new public park. It is a vision for housing that balances affordability, design, and inclusion, supported through partnerships with CreateTO, Delterra, and the City of Toronto.

Reviving a model that works

CreateTO CEO Vic Gupta called the project “a great day for non-market housing, and an even better day for co-op housing.” He underscored how city-owned land and nonprofit builders can work together to deliver housing that lasts.

The Cedars was made possible by the City’s decision to sell the site below market value, waive development charges and permit fees, and fast-track approvals. The total investment of more than $4 million is a tangible example of how policy and partnership can accelerate progress.

A blueprint for what’s next

When complete, The Cedars will be one of the largest attainable ownership communities in Canada. It will bring together co-op renters and first-time homeowners, people at every stage of their housing journey, into one thriving neighborhood.

For the team at Ramp Communications, moments like this are a reminder of why we do what we do. Working with a values-driven partner like Options for Homes, whose mission is rooted in access, inclusion, and community, reinforces our belief in the power of purpose-led collaboration. We’re proud to have supported them in building a brand that mirrors that vision and continues to inspire meaningful impact. When nonprofits, governments, and communities come together around a shared purpose, they create more than buildings; they build belonging.