The Leslie Nymark community, also known as the Villaways, is located on Leslie Street, north of Sheppard Avenue East, a short walk from the TTC’s Leslie subway station. Starting in 2010, Toronto Community Housing led a master plan revitalization for the neighbourhood working with development partner Tridel.

The scope of the multi-block project includes 121 TCHC affordable housing units and a new market condo by Tridel (Scala) with amenity terraces and green roof. New public roads, Adra Grado Way and Okra Tomar Crescent, were designed and built, and a new streetscape introduced for Leslie St. In addition, the project includes a new City Park and a POPS with playground surrounded by the natural green of Villaways Park to the South and the ravine system to the east. A new stair case was designed and built connecting the Leslie Nymark community to the ravine system below, with work to repair and restore the ravine slope coinciding with the new staircase. A public art mural by graffiti artist Jesse (Phade) Pacho was created on Okra Tomar Crescent in collaboration with Leslie Nymark residents.

In the design of the landscape, efforts were made to extend the organic flow of the natural ravine system into the site. A custom paving pattern referencing the Don Valley River and layers of green planting extend across the site blurring any distinction between affordable and market housing and adding to the character and identity of the space.

JRS scope of services included landscape design, City of Toronto Approvals including Rezoning, SPA and TGS, and ravine restoration. The project achieved Toronto Green Standard (TGS) Tier 2 requirements and LEED® Gold certification.