Historic rooming house tenants in Kensington face eviction as Hydro One expands
About 20 to 25 residents must leave 28–30 Cecil St. by November 30 for transformer station expansion. Many are students; affordable rooms in the area are scarce.
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Tenants at an 1881-built rooming house just outside Kensington Market have been told they must vacate by November 30 to make way for a Hydro One infrastructure expansion.
The property at 28–30 Cecil St., near College and Spadina, has long provided some of the city's most affordable rental rooms. The building is listed on Toronto's heritage register but lacks full heritage designation, which would protect it from demolition or significant alteration. Hydro One says it wants to expand the adjacent Cecil Transformer Station, which is nearly 50 years old and supplies electricity to downtown Toronto. The company examined alternatives but determined the facility next door lacks the space needed for equipment to support future growth.
Hydro One says the transaction has not yet been finalized and no formal eviction notices under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act have been issued. Tenants were informed in August of the November 30 deadline. At least one resident has been told they may remain through the end of the year.
Many residents are University of Toronto students in the middle of the academic year. Zaid Arafadh, a U of T student living there, said the move forced him mid-semester. "The rent is affordable, which is great for us. I go to U of T, which is really close by, and even during the winter it's not a big commute," he said. "It was really heartbreaking that I have to leave. I don't want to move out during December. I have finals in December as well."
His new accommodation costs roughly the same as his current room but offers far less. "The room is much smaller and it's a basement as well, while it's the main floor here. The standard of living is definitely lower," he said.
George Traini of the Baldwin Village Community Association said losing 20 to 25 low-cost rooms is significant. "When you lose 20 to 25 rooms in a neighbourhood, these are rooms that are at the low-end cost factor for accommodations, and that's never a good thing." Traini suggested Hydro One could preserve the building's facade to minimize the visual impact on the street.
How many tenants will be displaced, and what relocation support is Hydro One offering?
Will the city explore full heritage designation to prevent demolition of the 1881 building?
What is Hydro One's timeline for needing the property, and could the acquisition be delayed?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When must tenants leave 28–30 Cecil St.?
Tenants must vacate by November 30, 2026.
How many residents are affected?
About 20 to 25 residents at the rooming house must leave.
Why is Hydro One expanding at this location?
Hydro One wants to expand the adjacent Cecil Transformer Station, which is nearly 50 years old and supplies electricity to downtown Toronto. The facility next door lacks the space needed for equipment to support future growth.
What protections does the building currently have?
The 1881-built building at 28–30 Cecil St. is listed on Toronto's heritage register but lacks full heritage designation, which would protect it from demolition or significant alteration.
