Digging deep to help Londoners in need of housing

Construction is still on track for an affordable housing project had to overcome an unexpected challenge. CTV London’s Daryl Newcombe has the details.

A big dig underway in the SoHo neighbourhood is the first step in constructing Residenza Affordable Housing’s third building in London.

Residenza Victoria will eventually rise 5-storeys along Hill Street and 11-storeys above South Street (along Colborne)— but first a 35-foot pit must be excavated to accommodate the foundation and two levels of underground parking.

The building will have 184 apartments (1 and 2 bedroom units) offered at a mix of affordable and market rent.

It includes 35 barrier free accessible units, common areas and a rooftop amenity space on the north side of the building.

“Knowing that we’re building affordable housing as the end goal and watching the progress is actually very fulfilling,” explains Claudio De Vincenzo, Vice Chair of Residenza Affordable Housing’s Board.

Roger Caranci, President of Residenza Affordable Housing’s Board visits the construction site regularly with De Vincenzo ever since the project broke ground earlier this year.

The big dig hasn’t been without its share of challenges—including an enormous amount of groundwater that flows across the site.

“There’s basically a river underground here,” explains De Vincenzo. “We currently have a permit to pump 4 million litres of water out a day. Some days we get 300,000, 400,000 litres. We’ve installed four wells to handle the water, and once we waterproof, we’ll install a permanent well within the building that will continue to pump water.”

The excavation will also allow the creation of underground parking for 120 vehicles.

The building will also have an area for surface parking, and some EV charging stations for the tenants

Residenza Victoria is part of Village Soho, a partnership by six non-profit housing providers to create almost 700 mixed affordability units on the former hospital lands.

“We’re the last to start, but also the longest build,” says De Vincenzo. “We might be able to get above ground by January, at street level. We’re looking to open in the spring or summer of 2028.”

Residenza Affordable Housing, previously known as the Italian Seniors’ Project, opened Residenza Italia in 2011 and Residenza Ortona in 2020, both on Hamilton Road.