After legalizing four-unit multiplexes citywide in 2023, Toronto is now considering allowing five- and six-unit multiplexes in Scarborough North.
If approved, the expanded multiplex permissions would introduce a new low-rise housing option in Ward 23, “creating more opportunities for equitable access to small-scale, ground-related housing that meets the needs of both current and future residents,” says Chief Planner Jason Thorne.
According to Councillor Jamaal Myers, about 14% of all households in Scarborough North are multi-generational families, making multiplexes a natural fit for the community’s demographics. More units per property mean more families can stay together while still having their own space.
Approving six-unit multiplexes is also key to unlocking federal funding from Ottawa’s Housing Accelerator Fund, which could help Scarborough North build nearly 12,000 affordable homes.
For property managers, this initiative opens the door to new investment possibilities – making it easier to diversify portfolios while meeting the rising demand for multifamily rental homes.
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