Four out of the five new apartment buildings that form Village So Ho have been finished, and almost all of the affordable units in those buildings have been leased, with tenants starting to move in.
Since 2020, six non-profit organizations have been collaborating to convert the old Victoria Hospital site in London’s So Ho area into a mixed-income community with 690 units, including 410 affordable ones along with supportive and market-rate housing.
“To see the buildings completed, and people moving in very happy with what they’re finding, it’s a very good feeling,” said Greg Playford, who serves on the London Community Foundation’s Housing Action Committee.
“It really makes all those volunteer hours spent organizing worth it when you see people housed and living a better life.”
Greg Playford is a member of the London Community Foundation’s Housing Action Commitee. (Jack Sutton/CBC)
The last new apartment building, along with two restored historic hospital buildings, is anticipated to be finished by 2027, according to Playford.
This project has encountered significant obstacles along its path. In 2023, construction faced delays after Indwell, one of the non-profit partners, needed additional funding to keep redeveloping the former War Memorial Children’s Hospital and Victoria Health Services Building into supportive housing.
Playford gave a tour of the building located at 351 Hill St., built by Homes Unlimited. The structure includes 40 affordable apartments alongside 56 market-rate units.
Village So Ho consists of five new rental buildings, in addition to two renovated and repurposed historic hospital buildings. (Jack Sutton/CBC)
Playford mentioned that there has also been strong interest in the market-rate apartments, which are priced below typical market rents because they are owned and managed by non-profit organizations.
One-bedroom units start at around $1,600 per month while two-bedroom apartments begin at approximately $2,200.
“We’re getting lots of traffic,” Playford said. “We’re optimistic the building will be filled soon.”
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