Tuesday, February 14, 2012 — Cloudy 1°C
Environment

Bringing the Green Life to Regent Park

Posted by Joshua / February 24, 2009

13 Comments

Regent Park Revitalization MapRegent Park is getting revitalized! And going green! The publicly funded neighbourhood is over 50 years old and definitely showing its age - thus the renovation plans.

But this sort of project is exactly the kind of thing many developers (and funders - especially where there is public money) try to do on the cheap side. Or at least what's cheap in the short run. So my ears certainly perked up when I saw that Toronto Community Housing and Corix utilities have partnered to bring green energy to Regent Park.

Over at The Environmental Age they've got a thorough summary of all the green elements, but the gist of it is that Regent Park will enjoy high efficiency heating and cooling thanks to a mix of cogeneration (you make electricity and useful heat at the same time!), solar and geothermal in the future.

The eight page summary (pdf) of the revitalization project makes the case for the project and the vision (in part) "of vibrancy, diversity and sustainability - in building types, designs and heights, incomes, uses, community services, recreation spaces, learning facilities and activities."

It will be interesting to see, as new condos go up so close to downtown, how popular this community is and how easy it will be to maintain economic diversity as well as an ethnic one. But it's nice to know that there is a firm plan for how to implement that "sustainability" part of the vision.

Map from the Regent Park Plan.

Discussion

13 Comments

Sort By Oldest First / Newest First

Subscribe

Parkdalian / February 24, 2009 at 02:06 pm
user-pic
It'll also be interesting to see if these current residents of Regent park will be able to afford living here in ten years time, due to this revitilization.

I'm a huge supporter of green space and community building, so i really hope this is sustainable in the long run.

And if it is, if this'll be a good example for many other much needed housing parts of TO.
Reply
Danielle / February 24, 2009 at 02:48 pm
user-pic
In answer to your question regarding whether current residents will be able to afford living there, the answer is no. There have been a lot of changes to the redevelopment plan along the way and few to the benefit of current residents. I agree that the buildings needed fixing and that the area was poorly designed, but the model as it stands seems a lot more interested in paving the way for gentrification than in establishing a sustainable, economically-mixed neighborhood. Which is a shame since Regent is a neighborhood worth keeping.
Reply
Greg Smith / February 24, 2009 at 03:22 pm
user-pic
Gentrification... sigh. My (now-905'n & retired) mother lived in Regent Park as a child in the 1950s, but it'll be many years yet before my wife and I could possibly afford to live in even the cheapest (~$190k?) of the <a href="http://onecole.ca/";>One Cole</a> condos they're throwing up at Dundas & Parliament. Not that I could afford to buy anywhere in the City now (or soon), but a co-op or even just newly built private rental housing might have been an option for us. So much for a mix...
Reply
Anna / February 24, 2009 at 03:32 pm
user-pic
Sadly, I totally agree with you, Danielle. One only has to look to the south of Regent Park to see the gentrification that is going on in Corktown and between Corktown and the Distillery District. Regent Park's failing infrastructure was not just about the garden city design, it was about neglect and marginalization. I have some hope for the new Regent development, but I am skeptical.
Reply
Brad J. / February 24, 2009 at 04:53 pm
user-pic
Future residents will indeed be able to live in Regent Park area--the redevelopment includes a basket of both market ownership units (condos) and subsidized housing (like it was before, through TCHC).

The difference is that the nabe will be mixed, rather than homogeneously low income. The mix strategy worked really well in the St. Lawrence Market nabe. The West Don Lands development will also include a healthy dollop of subsidized housing. And the whole of Toronto's east side already has a metric buttload of assisted housing and social services.

Anyone who thinks that Regent Park is being redeveloped into 100%market-rate condos hasn't done any bloody research.
Reply
Danielle / February 24, 2009 at 07:09 pm
user-pic
Brad, I would invite you to do some research beyond reading press releases. Originally the plan stated that 100% of the current residents would be allowed to return; that number continues to drop everytime revised plans are unveiled. The original plan also include mixed buildings (condo and rent-geared-to-income units together), which was axed when the developer claimed they were unable to sell the condos that way, which means you'll still end up with stigmatized buildings, bereft of condo fees and likelier to fall into disrepair. Moreover, the 'plan' that enables current residents to buy units has some serious flaws, like the inability to own the condo outright and sell for a profit; units bought under this plan can only be sold back to the developer, at the price originally paid (which, in this market, might not be so bad). Besides, how many of the multi-child, multi-generation families living in RP are going to find a condo large enough to suit their needs?

I don't mean to be dramatic but lets be honest; this is an attempt to reclaim prime, transit-heavy, profitable downtown real estate from the poor who currently occupy it.
Reply
Max / February 24, 2009 at 07:11 pm
user-pic
I agree with Brad. Most people don't know what they are talking about... like everyone who posted before Brad. Know a little bit about your subject before you talk. TCHC is in there, the number of units is to remain the same... of course the mix will stay the same. Regent Park is modelled after the St Lawrence neighborhood... and that is the basics on the information
Reply
Brad J. / February 24, 2009 at 07:48 pm
user-pic
Whatever Danielle--a mixed community is preferable to a ghetto.

From: http://www.torontohousing.ca/news/20081218/regent_park_revitalization_track

KEY FACTS - REGENT PARK
7,500 residents in 2,083 rental units prior to the start of revitalization work

KEY FACTS - REGENT PARK REVITALIZATION
Revitalization will replace all existing 2,083 units of social housing and will contribute at least 700 new affordable housing units, some of which will nearby in the east downtown.

Reply
A|Layton / February 24, 2009 at 09:04 pm
user-pic
I had the opportunity to have one of the project managers for Daniels (the development company that has partnered with Toronto Housing on this scheme) give a lecture in December about this. A large percentage of the project is being kept as affordable housing, through a PPP. However, as the density of the area will be increased drastically (it is currently very low), only the distribution of these affordable housing units will be altered to be more integrated between these and market rate units. The market rate units are simply being built first in order to satisfy the requirements of the institutions and businesses that have agreed to take up space in the development. Otherwise, the priority of THC is to provide room for as many of the original residents as possible in the new development.
Reply
nippleholic / February 25, 2009 at 12:10 pm
user-pic
I live on River Street just south of Regent Park and I'm just glad that *something* is being done with this neighborhood after so many years of neglect.

Will this project completely eradicate the pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers that I'm used to seeing everyday? Probably not. But at least it's a start.
Reply
jung / March 10, 2009 at 01:00 pm
user-pic
i think regent park has alot of potential... i ignore the social stigma given out to this area..im comfortable living at dundas and river.. the outdoor hockey rinks in winter is great,, people are people whether your black/white/yellow..God sees the heart not outside appearance..
i think it will be awsome to see an integration of differnt socioeconomic peeps living in one community and getting along
Reply
Art Vandelay replying to a comment from jung / March 10, 2009 at 01:16 pm
user-pic
I agree, it would be great to see different socioecononical folks living side by side.

Only thing i don't understand is why you'd say only God only sees the heart. You're insinuating that people who do not believe in a God can't see people's hearts, and rather judge by their outer appearance.

I guess you're free to believe what you want to believe. But i'd never come on BlogTO and say "because i don't believe, i judge people only by their hearts, not their outter appearances".

Get my point?
Reply
John Lennon / May 7, 2009 at 10:12 am
user-pic
As with all revitalization projects the prices will go up and the people there now won't be there by the time the project is completed
Reply

Add a Comment
Other Cities: Vancouver – Montreal