Toronto Humber condos to be ‘smoke-less’

TORONTO — Toronto-area non-profit developer Options for Homes has announced the launch of sales for a 22-storey “smoke-less” condo building to be built on the banks of the Humber River at Lawrence and Weston in the city.

The developer announced in a recent media release the use of tobacco and cannabis consumption at the building will be restricted to vapourizers. The restriction comes following a survey of 7,000 potential buyers that revealed 75 per cent said they would be more likely to purchase in a smoke-free building, and when asked if cannabis was to be restricted to e-cigarettes or vaping devices, 49 per cent said they would be more likely to purchase.

Sales of the Humber, as the building is branded, were set to launch June 9 with a groundbreaking targeted for March 2019. The build is anticipated to take 24 months.

OPTIONS FOR HOMES — Non-profit Toronto developer Options for Homes has announced the launch of sales for a 22-storey, 232-unit “smoke-less” condo building called the Humber.

The Humber will have 232 suites including five townhome-style suites and will be built by Deltera. The developer said it intends to create a family-friendly condo, with two-thirds of the suites two- and three-bedroom units suitable for families. The building will be located in close proximity to the new Weston UP Express station.

Options for Homes is Canada’s largest developer of affordable housing, focusing on customers with household incomes between $40,000 and $90,000, the statement indicates. The developer offers buyers 10 per cent to 15 per cent on a down payment loan. The smoke-less policy will also restrict growing cannabis on balconies or in homes.

“We know from surveying our potential purchasers that there’s deep interest in smoke-free buildings. We think this idea of smoke-less speaks to people’s concern about the impact of smoking while respecting individual choice and understanding that we’re on the cusp of a major cultural shift when it comes to cannabis,” says Options CEO Heather Tremain in the statement.

“We feel that restricting smoking while permitting vaping strikes the right balance between the best interest of many and the personal rights of the few.”