The City of Toronto leases City-owned or City-managed spaces to eligible non-profit organizations to deliver services to residents of Toronto, for a nominal, Below Market Rent. Organizations hold short-term agreements with the City to deliver direct programs to local neighbourhoods that meet specific community needs.
Providing accessible community space is a key component to building strong neighbourhoods. Community use of City space is a collaboration and investment in the City’s community and cultural organizations. These organizations in turn provide community, social, health, recreation and cultural programs that are aligned with and support the City’s strategic objectives. The absence of community space directly impacts the availability of programs and services that are responsive to local needs.
Services delivered under Community Space Tenancy include community health, arts and culture, recreation, before and after school programs, settlement services and environmental planning.
City staff members are available to talk with you about the Community Space Tenancy program. You can ask us about how to apply, how to get on a waiting list for City space, or how to develop a proposal towards a community space tenancy project.
Applicant organizations must be:
Applicant organizations must:
Community Space Tenancies will be made available to organizations through a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) administered by the City of Toronto. The REOI is an open call to Non-Profit organizations that fit the service priorities of the available City space allocated for community use. Community organizations must be able to meet any additional application requirements.
A single non-profit organization leasing a dedicated community space providing stable, consistent and accessible community services. A City space can have more than one organization each with an independent lease.
Each lease can be a head lease for up to two sub-lease agencies within a given space.
A one- to two-year lease agreement for grassroots organizations to build capacity, develop an organizational structure, and design services in order to meet an emerging need. Incubator Tenant organizations will share space with a mentor organization.
Three or more non-profit organizations lease dedicated space within a city facility with intentional service collaboration and integration. A governance structure and co-location agreement details the facility service mandate which each agency follows in addition to their lease with the City.
The City of Toronto is pleased to announce the commencement of the development of a multi-service Community Space at 1880-1890 Eglinton Avenue East in the Golden Mile Area. The City is seeking eligible organizations interested in entering a Below-Market Lease agreement under the Community Space Tenancy Policy.
The development at 1880-1890 Eglinton Avenue East will include 30,000 square feet of available Community Space in “Block F” at the northeast corner of Eglinton Ave. E. and Victoria Park Ave. The Community Space will be located on the second floor and contain dedicated entrances and vestibules. The space is currently under development and will be ready for occupancy in approximately 2025. The future building will be mixed-use and will accompany the comprehensive redevelopment of the broader Golden Mile area, which is set to include new childcare facilities, parks space, public schools, and an expansion of existing community services facilities.
This Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) and selection process will be used to determine of appropriate occupant organization or group of organizations. Successful proponent(s) will participate with the City in a multi-year process to finalize the floor design, program model, governance model and financial model for the integration of services and sustainable operation of the Community Space. The successful proponent(s) will need to secure $500,000 to $750,000 approximately 3-6 months before occupancy, to customize the space with any needed fit-up and/or leaseholder improvements.
To apply for this Community Space Tenancy, all organizations must submit a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) application by 11:59 PM on Friday, June 23, and attend one mandatory information session:
| Information Session #1 | Information Session #2 |
| Date: Thursday, April 27
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m. (1.5 Hours) Location: Online, Webex Deadline To Register: April 25 |
Date: Tuesday, May 9
Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m. (1.5 Hours) Location: Online, Webex Deadline To Register: May 5 |
To receive a copy of the Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) Application, and to register for one of the mandatory information sessions, please email Hamda Mohamed at Hamda.Mohamed@toronto.ca. Applications from organizations that do not attend a mandatory online information session will not be considered.
The City offers various opportunities and agreements for the use of available space through other City Divisions, Agencies or Corporations. Follow the link and/or contact below to explore other possibilities.