A community-centric proposal for affordable housing in South Parkdale, Toronto

Abstract

Neoliberal commodification has undermined the consideration of housing as a basic human right while also contributing greatly to the current housing crisis in Canada. To meaningfully address the lack of affordable housing nationwide, this thesis focuses on the challenges and opportunities in Toronto, the country’s largest city, where housing is increasingly inaccessible to many. Drawing on literature from the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, sociology, and economics, this thesis analyzes multiple housing strategies, identifying opportunities within them to propose a place-based hybrid model. When deployed, long-term affordability can be achieved while strengthening community cohesion and identity. Ultimately, this thesis puts forth a set of design objectives and an economic implementation plan for a place-based mixed- use development that provides affordable housing and amenities in the culturally and socioeconomically diverse neighbourhood of South Parkdale in Toronto, Canada.