The Gentrification
Struggle
Struggle
Affordable Housing
2021
Advisor: Drew Adams
2021
Advisor: Drew Adams
This project addresses these growing issues, by demanding for us to think about how we can halt this erasure by disincentivizing corporate development, to create a pathway towards diverse types of affordable community homeownership through incremental and gentle densification. While cultivating the diverse, cultural, and physical presence within neighborhoods like Little Jamaica as their community changes shape through development.
“The built environment of the people, tailored by and for local culture and conditions—is overdue. It can combat the placelessness, homelessness, and unaffordability that corporations have imposed.”
Toronto’s Housing Crisis
“Toronto has a housing problem. The population is increasing, the housing market can’t keep up & single family neighbourhoods aren’t adapting for this change. Over the next few years thousands will call Toronto home. But will those arriving have a place for them call their own?
Meanwhile, Toronto has become synonymous across the world for its expensive housing. This doesn’t make sense as there is endless construction across the city. There had to be more affordable housing being built…
The numbers show that the waitlist for affordable housing is massive!
Even with the inclusionary zoning policy put into place by the city, the affordability of housing hasn’t gone down. This is due to the fact that the zoning is based off neighbourhood income and incomes are often times skewed based off wealthier households within the neighbourhood.
As the affordable housing list continues to grow, so does the list of newly built condominiums - well over 8000 - sitting empty due to high-costs or are used as Airbnb units.
Even with the inclusionary zoning policy put into place by the city, the affordability of housing hasn’t gone down. This is due to the fact that the zoning is based off neighbourhood income and incomes are often times skewed based off wealthier households within the neighbourhood.
As the affordable housing list continues to grow, so does the list of newly built condominiums - well over 8000 - sitting empty due to high-costs or are used as Airbnb units.
The research revealed a significant disparity between the current/proposed numbers of affordable and developer housing. There is an imbalance, with a predominance of expensive units compared to affordable ones. Even those marketed as affordable were not genuinely accessible, given the high average income of the neighborhood residents. Consequently, the housing constructed was only marginally more affordable for the average individual.
Coupled with higher income, increasing population density, and a lack of variety in housing typology. There is just clearly not enough affordable housing.
I found that irregular parcels scattered throughout the city present overlooked opportunities for potential affordable housing developments. Which took me to the west end of Little Jamaica, as the site had a ton of irregular shaped lots but also faces the risk of erasure due to corporate developments.
Coupled with higher income, increasing population density, and a lack of variety in housing typology. There is just clearly not enough affordable housing.
I found that irregular parcels scattered throughout the city present overlooked opportunities for potential affordable housing developments. Which took me to the west end of Little Jamaica, as the site had a ton of irregular shaped lots but also faces the risk of erasure due to corporate developments.