OSHAWA, ONT. A major redevelopment is getting underway in downtown Oshawa, Ont., as construction begins on the first two buildings of The Foundry District, a new 23-acre community planned for the city’s downtown core.
Representatives from Medallion Corporation, the federal government and the City of Oshawa gathered to mark the start of construction at 119 and 151 Bruce St. The two buildings, standing 10 and 23 storeys respectively, are expected to deliver more than 500 purpose-built rental homes, including affordable housing.
The project is being developed through a partnership between Medallion and government partners. It is supported by $188 million in funding through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Apartment Construction Loan Program, the Region of Durham’s Regional Revitalization Program and a grant agreement with the City of Oshawa.
The redevelopment also marks the transformation of a site with a long industrial history.
For 85 years, the property was home to the Fittings Factory, a cast-iron manufacturing operation that employed hundreds of Oshawa residents. The factory eventually closed in 1987, leaving the site vacant for almost four decades.
The revitalization plan aims to give the former industrial property a new role within downtown Oshawa. At the centre of the project is a proposed park that would introduce new green space to the downtown area and create a public gathering place on the former factory site.
The first phase is part of a much larger vision for The Foundry District. The long-term plan could transform the 23-acre property into a vibrant mixed-use community comprising approximately nine buildings and around 3,000 rental homes, alongside local retail, restaurants and a new park.
The development is intended to accommodate a broad mix of residents, including families, students, seniors, young professionals, newcomers and downsizers.
The site also benefits from its location in the heart of downtown Oshawa, surrounded by restaurants, businesses, cultural venues and the Tribute Communities Centre.
With construction now underway, the former industrial property is beginning its transition from a vacant factory site into a new residential and mixed-use district that could significantly reshape Oshawa’s downtown landscape.
