Toronto Residents Organization
Research, Education, Analysis and Tools
Senior Editor By Lanescape & Evergreen | 26 May 2017 The purpose of this report is to: Provide rationale for the introduction of laneway suites and detached secondary suites Address previous and current concerns around laneway housing Provide a set of recommended performance and technical standards for laneway suites Illustrate the community consultation process and summarize the … Read more
By Ashley Salvador | University of Waterloo | November 11, 2020 Cities across North America are facing unprecedented challenges related to housing affordability, climate resilience and economic sustainability. In many cities, infill housing policies are being adopted in response to these issues. This research focuses on one particular type of infill housing – Detached Accessory … Read more
Kelsey Carriere | University of Toronto | April 1, 2017 | As the Greater Toronto Area struggles to accommodate over 100,000 new residents every year, and house prices continue to soar, how can we maintain an adequate supply of rental units? The success of Toronto’s 1999 Secondary Suites bylaw, with secondary apartments now making up … Read more
The global COVID-19 pandemic is having far-reaching effects in Toronto, including major impacts to what have been booming real estate and building industries. Many jobs and most events are currently suspended, postponed, or affected in other ways, though UrbanToronto is still operating at full strength with our team working remotely. As a means to keep … Read more
Building and fire codes set minimum requirements for the various functions of a new development that ensure fire and evacuation safety in the event of an emergency. Implemented early in the design and construction phases of a project, these safety measures are integral in keeping building occupants safe, though their presence alone is far from … Read more
A mid-rise, mixed-use rental building is being proposed for Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood at 1500 Bayview Avenue on the northwest corner with Davisville Avenue. The site currently houses a parking lot, a Valu-Mart, and a garden centre & greenhouse. In October, Toronto-based Medallion Corporation submitted Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control applications to City planners in order to redevelop the … Read more
A proposal recently submitted to the City of Toronto seeks Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Approval to bring a purpose-built rental tower and a new public park to 185 Balliol Street, a short walk east of Davisville subway station in Midtown’s Davisville Village area. The proposed development, a joint venture between SmartLiving by SmartCentres REIT with seasoned rental … Read more
At its meeting Monday, the Toronto Preservation Board (TPB) voted to adopt a set of staff recommendations that seemed, to some observers as well as development industry insiders, like a classic example of bureaucratic overreach. In a series of reports tabled at the board, Heritage Planning division officials recommended that almost a thousand older commercial/main street building … Read more
In times of economic crisis, stimulus spending is important. But spending it wisely is even more important. In the midst of the climate and public health crisis you’d think we’d be on a recovery better path than we are today. Efforts to get the economy running again have long-lasting legacies It is well established logic … Read more
Of course, the Ford government responded with misdirection and a bit of money. In the wake of David Crombie’s weekend resignation from the Greenbelt Council, followed by the rest of its members, Premier Doug Ford and his chief municipal flack, Steve Clark, sought to deflect the former mayor’s sharp criticism (“high level bombing”) of the … Read more