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Nearly all of the 410 affordable apartments in London, Ont.’s Village SoHo have been rented, with tenants now moving into four of the project’s five newly completed apartment buildings.
Six non-profit organizations have been working since 2020 to transform the former Victoria Hospital lands in London’s SoHo neighbourhood into a 690-unit mixed-income community that combines affordable, supportive and market-rate housing.
“To see the buildings finished, and people moving in very happy with what they’re finding, it’s a very good feeling,” said Greg Playford, a member of the London Community Foundation’s Housing Action Committee.
“It really makes all those volunteer hours getting this organized 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 final new apartment building, along with two restored historic hospital buildings, is expected to be completed in 2027, Playford said.
The project has faced significant challenges along the way. In 2023, construction was delayed after Indwell, one of the non-profit partners, had to secure additional funding to continue 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 building includes 40 affordable apartments and 56 market-rate units.
Village SoHo consists of five new rental buildings, in addition to two renovated and repurposed historic hospital buildings. (Jack Sutton/CBC)
Playford said demand has also been strong for the market-rate apartments, which he noted are priced below typical market rents because they are owned and operated by non-profit organizations.
One-bedroom units start at about $1,600 a month, while two-bedroom apartments start at about $2,200.
“We’re getting lots of traffic,” Playford said. “We’re optimistic the building will be filled soon.”