The construction of our new 92-unit affordable housing project at 20 Sewells Road in Scarborough is now complete and the building is occupied.  Thank you to all the donors of the project.

Finished at last: 20 Sewells Road

Scroll down for PHOTOS of the construction phase.

Click here to view the Architect's Rendering of the project.

Click on each of the date links below to view the progress of the construction of 20 Sewells Road.

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On October 7, 2003, nineteen months after Wigwamen Incorporated first submitted its proposal to the City of Toronto for the development of 20 Sewells Road, eight members of the Design and Development Committee gathered at Wigwamen’s Board room to open tenders for the construction of our proposed ninety-two unit housing project.

Tension was high as Architect Charles Rosenberg opened the tender packages, with each one of us knowing that, if the bids were too high, it could mean the end of our dream. 

20 Sewells Road Design and Development Committee

Click here for more photos of the tender opening

Methodically, each tender package was opened and examined by Charles, and the amount read out.  Tenders from four pre-qualified contractors were received, ranging from a whopping $14,000,000 on the high end, to $11,585,000 on the low end, still a full $900,000 more than we had budgeted.

There’s no doubt that $900,000 is a lot of money, but to have dreamt so much, to have worked so hard, to have come so close…none of us were going to let it go.

Since that evening, the Committee, our Architect, and our Development Consultant have been in discussions with the low bidder, Harbridge and Cross, with a view to fine-tuning their costs; Wigwamen has committed to increasing the size of its mortgage; and, perhaps most importantly, we’ve committed to raising, and contributing, over half a million dollars more.

Low bidder and chosen contractor, Harbridge 
& Cross

On November 6^th, 2003, a full five hundred and forty seven days from when we first submitted our proposal to the City, a letter of intent was issued to Harbridge and Cross stating in part that “…Wigwamen Incorporated has accepted your bid and has authorized you to proceed with the work immediately…”  As I write this article, earth-moving equipment is on the site, the ground’s been broken, and in early 2005, ninety-two families will be moving into brand new, affordable homes.

Angus Palmer, General Manager
Wigwamen Incorporated

Construction has begun!

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The sign, which is pictured in the Committee of Adjustment hearing photo to the left, was erected on the site by one of our Architects, Charles Rosenberg, and informs the community of the Committee of Adjustment hearing to be held February 12, 2003 at the Scarborough Civic Centre.  It reads in part:

Sign on site announcing Committee of Adjustment hearing

Minor Variance from the Zoning By-Law for 20 Sewells Road, to permit:

1) a total of 46 on-site parking spaces, whereas the Zoning By-law requires 129 parking spaces for this project;

2) maximum gross floor area of 77 square meters (829 square feet) for 2 bedroom units, whereas the Zoning By-Law requires 2 bedroom units to have maximum gross floor area of 75 square meters (808 square feet); and

3) bachelor and 4-bedroom units, whereas the Zoning By-Law does not permit bachelor and 4-bedroom units.

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GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT: Committee of Adjustment Meeting

March 2003

Before coming to Wigwamen Incorporated in 1998, I had spent roughly 15 years of my life working to develop non-profit and co-operative housing projects, many of which, it is fair to say, were not always welcomed with open arms by the surrounding community when they were first proposed.

For that reason, I’ve been quite favourably impressed by the reception given to Wigwamen Incorporated by residents in the area of 20 Sewells Road.  As mentioned, for instance, in the January edition of “Wigwam to Wigwam,” our presentation to our neighbours at a meeting on December 4^th was warmly received.

Even with that reception, however, I was more than a little nervous when Wigwamen went before the Committee of Adjustment for consideration of a number of minor variances to the zoning by-law on February 12, 2003.  In my experience, minor variances are often a trigger for people to voice their dissatisfaction with the whole idea of non-profit housing, and not simply a chance to comment on the planning issues.

With that in mind, we came prepared.  We had our Development Consultant, Ed Starr, our solicitor, Ron Crane, our Secretary-Treasurer, Valerie Kendall, both of our Architects, Steve Hilditch, and Charles Rosenberg, a representative from Marshall Macklin Monaghan who had completed our parking study, and myself.  And we had a letter of support for the minor variances from local Councillor, Raymond Cho.

The meeting in the Council Chambers of the Scarborough Civic Centre started at 2:00 p.m., with Wigwamen’s application number ten on a list of roughly 25 applicants.  The first eight applications were approved with no dissent.  I began to feel optimistic.  When the Committee came to the ninth applicant, however, they set it aside for further consideration.  My heart beat just a little bit faster…

The Chair of the Committee then moved onto our application, asking those in the audience whether anyone was prepared to speak to the application.  Ron Crane rose to identify himself as being present on behalf of Wigwamen.

“Is there anyone else present,”  the Chair enquired, “…who wished to speak to the application?”  We all held our breaths.  No one rose to speak.  I let out a sigh of relief.

But wait…the Chair was not done with us yet.  “If it’s acceptable to the applicant,” said the Chair “we would like to attach a condition to our approval.”  Now they really had our attention!  “Would it be acceptable to you, if this variance was only valid as long the site is used for transitional/affordable housing and place of worship uses?”  “Agreed,” said Ron Crane, without missing a beat.

Down went the Chair’s gavel, and we were done, our minor variance approved, subject only to the possibility of an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board within twenty days. 

The days between February 12, 2003 and March 4, 2003 passed quickly, but all of us, it is safe to say, stayed on edge, hoping against hope that there would not be an appeal of the decision.

On March 5^th, 2003, the Committee of Adjustment officially informed us - there were no appeals.

We’re on our way!