Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative Inc

What you should know about Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative Inc

Hugh Garner Housing Co‑operative is a long‑established, member‑owned non‑profit situated in a park setting at 550 Ontario St., Toronto, combining downtown access with a neighbourhood feel. The co‑op offers 1‑ to 4‑bedroom apartments designed for a range of household types — young professionals, families and older adults — and emphasizes sustainable, affordable co‑operative living. Units include Rogers Ignite internet/digital cable-TV as part of the monthly housing charge; heating is by electric baseboard and hydro is individually metered and paid by each household. Amenity highlights include a Garden Room, an 8,000+ sq ft south Green Roof that supports local wildlife, a Green Roof Terrace, a rooftop gas grill, Party Room, Children’s Play/Computer Room, card‑operated laundry, underground parking and indoor bike lock‑ups. The building is well served by TTC (buses on Wellesley, Sherbourne and Parliament, the College streetcar, and subway connections on the Bloor and Yonge lines) and is steps from neighbourhood shopping and nearby cultural and commercial nodes. Unit information and housing charges are published by the co‑op. Representative monthly charges are: 1‑bed $1,094; 2‑bed $1,273–1,362 (variants include yard and additional half bath); 3‑bed $1,511–1,602 (including yard options); and 4‑bed $1,758. A Rogers cable package is included. Additional member charges: underground parking $70/spot, underground bike‑up $3/spot. Floor plan square footages are provided (for example, 1‑bed ~613 sq ft; 2‑beds ~888–895 sq ft; 3‑beds ~1,183–1,242 sq ft). Governance follows standard co‑op principles: democratic management with members electing a Board of Directors from among themselves, collective responsibility for operations, and transparency via audited financial statements. Member rights outlined include voting on the annual budget (which sets housing charges), electing and standing for the board, receiving audited financials, and security of tenure conditional on compliance with co‑op bylaws. The application process is managed through the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) postings when the waiting list opens. Currently the waiting list is closed. When openings occur, applicants must attend a mandatory in‑person orientation to obtain an application. The process includes a $25 application fee per applicant over 16, submission of income documentation, credit and landlord checks, a Membership Committee interview and Board approval. Approved applicants are placed on an external waiting list; possession of a unit confers membership. Note: new members are not eligible for Rent‑Geared‑to‑Income (RGI) assistance for the first four years. The co‑op is a CHFT member and links to broader cooperative associations are provided for additional sector context.