Future community housing in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
York Region is building a new six-storey apartment building with approximately 97 residential units, including 19 barrier free, accessible units, and ground floor non-residential space at 5676 Main Street in the community of Stouffville.
The building will contain a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom rental apartments for seniors, families, couples and individuals. Residents will enjoy use of indoor amenity space, a rooftop patio area and surface parking. Owned and operated by York Region’s housing corporation, Housing York Inc., the development will be environmentally sustainable and designed to a LEED Silver standard for improved energy and resource efficiency.
Construction started in spring 2022 and is on track to welcome its first residents in 2024.
Watch our video to learn more about this exciting development and check this page often for up-to-date information as the project progresses.
The site at 5676 Main Street
The 3.7-acre site is located in Stouffville with close proximity to transit, retail, dining, places of employment and health services. The new apartment building will be the first development on the property with potential for an additional development in the future. A full landscape plan including new trees and plants is also proposed for the development area.
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Construction updates
Construction update #4 – August 2023
Construction update #3 – November 2022
Construction update #2 – July 2022
Construction update #1 – March 2022
What we’ve heard from the community
Thank you to all community members who have participated in our public consultations. In fall 2021, residents were asked to participate in a brief online survey. Out of 290 respondents, 75% identified or approved the need for affordable rental housing in the community. We have also received valuable feedback on the property and site plan design which has helped inform our development plans.
A Community Liaison Committee, made up of local residents and business owners, meets regularly to discuss the project and provide input on next steps.
Applying for a market rent unit
Thirty per cent of the units at 5676 Main Steet are expected to be rented at market rate. Market rent vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Information about market rent units will be shared by Housing York Inc. once the building nears completion. To learn more about market rental opportunities and join our subscriber list visit york.ca/MarketRentHYI
Frequently asked questions
Why Community Housing?
Housing is the foundation of strong and caring communities. Safe, secure and affordable housing is essential for everyone.
Community housing provides subsidized or affordable rents to households with low and moderate incomes, delivered by non-profit and cooperative housing providers and Housing York Inc. (HYI). At the end of 2021, there were more than 15,600 households on the wait list for affordable housing in York Region. In 2021, 232 applicants were housed in a subsidized housing unit, the lowest number of applicants housed since 2008.
Affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges facing the Region today. In the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, York Region has the lowest proportion of rental housing at 14%, and the highest proportion of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs, with 52% of renters facing affordability challenges. In early 2021, York Regional Council passed a resolution declaring a housing affordability crisis. York Regional Council is committed to building complete communities with a full range of housing options and services to support residents at all ages and stages of their lives. This commitment includes investing in community housing.
Why was this site chosen?
There is a significant demand for rental housing in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Approximately 3,200 households on York Region’s subsidized housing wait list have identified the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville as a desired location. Many renters in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
The new development at 5676 Main Street will help increase the supply rental housing and is close to public transportation, including GO Transit, shops, restaurants, services and park space.
How long will the construction take?
Construction of the new community housing building began in spring 2022 and substantial completion is expected in spring 2024.
How large is the need for affordable housing?
There is a significant demand for rental housing in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. As the cost of housing continues to rise, there is limited supply with only two affordable rental apartment buildings in the community. According to the 2016 Census, more than 40% of renters in Whitchurch-Stouffville spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
Ensuring safe, secure and affordable housing helps build healthy lives and create stable communities. Housing York Inc’s affordable housing model focuses on good design, appropriate scale, mixed income and proactive management. This new development at 5676 Main Street will increase the supply of affordable and rental options to help more people find and keep housing.
Who will be living in the new development?
5676 Main Street will provide housing options for seniors, families and individuals. The building will offer a mix of affordable and market rent units. Similar to York Region’s diverse communities, households on the Region’s subsidized housing wait list represent different ages, family composition and backgrounds. The wait list is kept in chronological order, as required by the Province of Ontario. Currently, over 40% of individuals on the wait list are seniors.
Once construction is complete, available affordable housing units will be offered to applicants with the highest placement on the wait list for the building and available unit type. Placement is determined based on application date and defined priorities, such as Special Priority for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Market rent vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents interested in market rent units available from HYI can visit york.ca for more information.
How do I rent an apartment in this building?
The community housing development at 5676 Main St. in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will include both subsidized and market rental units.
Subsidized housing
For information about subsidized housing in York Region, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit york.ca/Housing or call Access York at 1-877-464-9675. New applicants should be aware that the demand for subsidized housing in York Region is high and wait times are long. If you are not on the subsidized housing wait list already, it is unlikely you will be offered a unit in this building when it opens.
Market rate units
Vacancies for the market rate units will be filled on a first-come, first served-basis. There is no wait list for HYI market rent units. Information on future market rent units, including rent and move-in dates, will be available closer to the end of construction. Residents interested in market rent units available from HYI can visit york.ca/MarketRentHYI for more information.
Where can I get more information?
To receive the latest updates, please sign up for the project e-newsletter. If you have questions or would like to learn more about this community housing development, please email your Community Liaison, at @email or call 289-338-8063.
Related Resources
- Holiday Greetings and 2022 Year in Review - December 2022
- Fact Sheet – August 2022
- Questions and Answers - March 2023
- Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville – On the Road – March 2023
- Presentation to Whitchurch-Stouffville Council - March 2020
- Presentation to Whitchurch-Stouffville Council - July 2019
- Community Housing Information Guide
Community Liaison Committee Presentations
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #9 Presentation - June 2023
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #8 Presentation - November 2022
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #7 Presentation - August 2022
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #6 Presentation - April 2022
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #5 Presentation - November 2021
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #4 Presentation - January 2021
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #3 Presentation - June 2020
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #2 Presentation - February 2020
- Community Liaison Committee Meeting #1 Presentation - December 2019
Related Links
- Housing Solutions: A Place for Everyone
- Building Better Together: Housing York Inc.’s 2021 to 2024 Strategic Plan
- Subsidized Housing in York Region
- Market Rent with Housing York
- York Region’s New Housing Developments and Proposed Projects
Contact Information
If you would like more information about this housing development, future engagement opportunities, or the work of the Community Liaison Committee, please contact the project Community Liaison:
Sarah Buckley
Phone: 289-338-8063
Email: @email
For general inquiries, please contact Access York:
Access York Hours of operation: Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 1-877-464-9675
TTY: 1-866-512-6228 (for deaf and hard of hearing)
Email: @email