University of Toronto?s School of Cities recently rolled out a three-pronged, city-building plan emphasizing mixed-use development.

According to U of T News, family shelters below upscale condos, student housing above a rec centre and affordable housing built on top of community spaces are examples of mixed-use development that aren?t often found in Toronto.

?Amid pandemic-related economic pressures and skyrocketing real estate prices, there is an even greater need for such development,? says Matti Siemiatycki, director of the Infrastructure Institute in the University of Toronto’s School of Cities.

The infrastructure institute is partnering with the city?s real estate agency on public property development projects, such as fire and paramedic stations with affordable housing built above them. The plan includes a social purpose real estate accelerator to spur development that benefits the community.
?We want to morph this into the norm rather than the exception and bring partners together intentionally, to turn it into a model of creative mixed-uses designed for a social purpose, because that?s what enables growth to drive community benefit.?
A plan by U of T’s School of Cities calls for more mixed-use development in Toronto, blending residential, commercial and other uses, to support the creation of affordable housing (images and photo courtesy of Infrastructure Institute, School of Cities)
The institute?s research shows this type of development is...