BIG DEALS AND CASES
The Robins Appleby team – featuring John Fox, Sukhraj Sandhu, and Kimberly Lexovsky - is proud to have acted for Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation (“DRNPHC”) in the successful closing of a major affordable housing development in the City of Oshawa – a deal that reflects the growing need for creative collaboration between public and private sectors to address Ontario’s housing crisis. DRNPHC is a non-profit housing provider committed to offering affordable, well-maintained rental housing and support services to low- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities. It partners on development and renewal initiatives, and supports tenant needs through community service networks in order to help address both current housing shortages and long-term community stability. Powering Progress: 66 Units Of Affordable Housing In Oshawa
The transaction included the acquisition of a prime development site from Daniels, a leading Ontario builder, and the execution of a CCDC-14 design-build contract with Daniels to complete the project. But this was far from a simple land deal. The project is being financed through multiple layers of government-backed funding, including Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (“CMHC”) and two separate affordable housing loans from the Region of Durham. We had the pleasure of working alongside DRNPHC, led by the tenacious and irrepressible Tracy Greig, and Daniels, led by Martin Blake, to navigate a range of complex challenges on this exciting project. The fixed-price CCDC-14 design-build contract anchored the construction side of the deal, which also had to uniquely account for the potential impact of recently imposed U.S.-Canada tariffs. On the financing and land acquisition side, our team crafted innovative title and closing mechanics to satisfy lender requirements without compromising DRNPHC’s interests. We also developed interim bridge financing solutions to kickstart site servicing before the purchase closed. Throughout the process, our team helped negotiate affordability covenants, structure subordination agreements between lenders, and coordinate layered financing from both CMHC and the Region of Durham – all while keeping the transaction on track for a smooth close and timely funding. The result? A transformative development that will bring over 66 three-storey townhouse units to Oshawa, making a real impact on the region’s housing goals. This project is a shining example of what’s possible when smart legal structuring, dedicated housing providers and developers, and committed public partners come together to tackle the housing crisis head-on.
Big Win On Jameson: 82 Homes Locked In For The Long Term In June 2025, Robins Appleby’s affordable housing team led by John Fox had the privilege of acting for New Commons Housing Trust Inc. (a non-profit housing entity established by New Market Funds to preserve and expand affordable housing), in the complex acquisition of an 82-unit apartment building located at 182 Jameson Avenue in downtown Toronto. The transaction was facilitated by Rachel Puma (Partner) and Stephanie Lanz (Associate), and required coordinated efforts involving three separate lenders as well as our client’s corporate counsel in British Columbia. The $17.63 million acquisition was principally financed through a significant contribution of over $11 million from the City of Toronto’s Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program (MURA). MURA provides forgivable loans that secure 99 years of rental affordability and offer the added benefit of property tax relief on affordable units. This program has proven to be a powerful tool in preserving Toronto’s affordable housing stock, creating mutually beneficial outcomes for governments and housing providers alike. The acquisition protects 82 households from displacement and ensures long-term affordability in a high-demand downtown neighbourhood. In addition to the MURA funding, the acquisition was supported by both institutional funding and a private loan negotiated by our team. The successful closing of this deal underscores Robins Appleby’s ability to manage multi-party, multi-jurisdictional transactions with precision and professionalism. However, this accomplishment could not have been achieved without the knowledge, persistence and hard work put in by the New Commons Housing Trust team, whose leadership in sourcing the property and commitment to preserving long-term affordable housing have been instrumental in securing a more inclusive future for our City. This acquisition reflects our deep expertise in this space as it is the fifth successful MURA-funded acquisition completed by our team since the program’s inception, with four more in the works this year. Robins Appleby’s housing group is proud to continue championing impactful affordable housing projects and looks forward to guiding more clients through MURA acquisitions in the months ahead.
4 ROBINS APPLEBY LLP | LEGAL PULSE SUMMER / FALL 2025
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