The original Victoria-Shuter site was acquired by the City in 1982, expressly for the purpose of affordable housing, as part of a development agreement with Cadillac Fairview for Phase II of the Eaton Centre.  Beginning in early 1987, a community group led by the Church of the Holy Trinity began to push the City to make good its commitment to develop affordable housing at the site.

When Live Entertainment Corporation of Canada made their own proposal for Victoria­-Shuter several years later, they were informed that, as part of any redevelopment scheme,  there would have to be a replacement site nearby for the affordable housing commitment which the site carries. When they offered Dundas-Bond as such a site, their proposal became a viable scheme with benefits to many parts of the community, including homeless singles and families, Toronto’s arts community, and City officials interested in revitalizing the City’s downtown core.

Along with Lantana Non-Profit  Homes, Homes First Society and Dunker Associates Architect, the member organizations made extensive preparations within the community for the project. Individuals and community groups put long hours of volunteer time into the development, expectations were raised, and there were many eyes looking anxiously toward the completion of the building.

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The project opened in May 1996.  Click here for a detailed chronology of the project.