The Ontario government is launching a competitive open market process to bring a new Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) to life at Queen-Spadina. As of June 10, Infrastructure Ontario is seeking private-sector partners to build two residential towers integrated with the future Ontario Line station, delivering new homes, jobs, retail space, and public amenities directly connected to high-frequency transit.
The development will include approximately 214 housing units, including affordable housing and 60 new jobs, combining office and retail opportunities with a transit station that offers connections to both the Ontario Line and TTC streetcar service. The plan calls for 14- and 15-storey mixed-use residential buildings that incorporate the architectural character of existing heritage buildings while introducing a modern transit hub to this culturally significant area.
Residents of the new Queen-Spadina TOC will benefit from over 215 bicycle parking spaces and walkable access to neighbourhood destinations such as Kensington Market, Chinatown, and downtown Toronto’s entertainment district. The initiative reflects the province’s strategy of leveraging private capital to reduce public infrastructure costs while delivering critical housing and economic opportunities.
The call for development proposals will remain open until July 22, 2025, with Infrastructure Ontario leading the broker-based solicitation process to attract competitive bids and maximize value for taxpayers.
The Queen-Spadina development is part of a broader provincial initiative to construct transit-oriented communities at 12 future subway stations across three major transit projects: the Ontario Line, the Yonge North Subway Extension, and the Scarborough Subway Extension. In total, these projects are expected to deliver approximately 56,000 new residential units and create space for 75,000 jobs, reshaping the urban fabric of the Greater Toronto Area around high-capacity public transit.
Background: What Is the Transit-Oriented Communities Program?
Ontario’s Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Program is an infrastructure-led approach to urban planning that integrates housing, employment, retail, and public amenities directly into the fabric of new transit stations. With a focus on high-density, mixed-use developments, the program aims to increase ridership, reduce congestion, and generate economic growth while accelerating housing supply.
Projects under the TOC Program are being planned in coordination with Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx, with input from local municipalities and Indigenous partners. The benefits of each project, such as affordable housing, green space, and heritage preservation, are negotiated site-by-site.
The Ontario Line project, a 15.6-kilometre subway project expected to support nearly 400,000 daily trips, is central to the TOC initiative. Once completed, it will serve as the backbone for this new generation of dense, connected communities. Ontario’s approach follows successful international models seen in Vancouver, London, Sydney, Washington D.C., and Tokyo, where transit-driven development has helped deliver long-term affordability and sustainability. Beyond Queen-Spadina, other major TOC sites planned along the Ontario Line include:
Ontario Line Projects
Corktown
A new community on the historic First Parliament site will include 1,490 residential units (with affordable options), 3,350 jobs, and a mix of retail and community space. It will link subway, streetcar, and bus service.
East Harbour
One of the program’s flagship developments, this 38-acre site is set to become a major employment centre with 50,000 jobs and 4,000 residential units, built around a transit hub connecting GO, Ontario Line, and TTC services.
Gerrard-Carlaw North and South
Combined, these sites will provide nearly 2,400 residential units and over 680 jobs, along with park space, retail, and a grocery store, all adjacent to Ontario Line, streetcar, and bus connections.
Cosburn
Near Pape Avenue, this site will offer 620 new homes, retail amenities, streetscape improvements, and over 50 jobs—all steps from the future Ontario Line station.
Pape
This mixed-use site near Danforth will include 440 residential units, 55 jobs, and new retail and office space, directly linked to both the Ontario Line and the existing Bloor-Danforth subway.
Thorncliffe Park
Set to deliver 2,660 homes and nearly 1,000 jobs, this site will include new commercial space, improved public plazas, and enhanced access to the Ontario Line.
Eastern Avenue
Located near East Harbour, this smaller-scale development will add 140 homes and new employment opportunities, with walkable access to GO, Ontario Line, and future TTC LRT services.
Yonge North Subway Extension
Bridge Station
A major residential and employment node with 20,000 homes and 9,000 jobs, supported by retail and community spaces along the subway corridor.
High Tech Station
Another high-density hub delivering 20,000 housing units and 9,000 jobs, strategically located with access to GO, VIVA Rapid Transit, and major highways.
Ontario Line Downtown Core Stations (In Addition to the Queen-Spadina Project)
Exhibition
This hub will bring 570 residential units and 1,350 jobs to the doorstep of sporting and entertainment venues, with seamless access to GO, TTC, and the Ontario Line.
King-Bathurst
Delivering 420 residential units, 90 jobs, and office space, this station’s development is designed to blend into the surrounding heritage district.
Scarborough Subway Extension
Lawrence East (Lawrence and McCowan)
A key site on the Scarborough Subway Extension, this development will include 738 residential units, 312 jobs, retail and office space, new greenspace, and a transit plaza with pedestrian connections.