A New Tall Neighbourhood with Old City Charm
Client: Korea Land & Housing CorporationLocation: Seoul, South KoreaScale: Size: Transit: Units: Project Duration: 2022- Tall neighbourhoods offer the best solution for accommodating the density required for robust urban infrastructures, diverse services, and thriving commercial centers. However, they often fall short in providing the vibrant public realm and appealing urban environments found in many older […]
Kissing Many Toads Before Finding the Prince: Office Conversion
A proposed plan to convert an office building to affordable housing Major cities across Canada and the US are facing 3 significant challenges: a massive housing shortage, excessive greenhouse gas emissions from new developments, and an oversupply of office spaces. Toronto, for instance, closed out 2023 with a surplus of 2.7 million square feet […]
Financial Incentives for Affordable Housing Part 2
Part 1 was one of our most popular blog posts ever! So we decided to update it with a part 2! Here is a selection of notable funds with a range of incentives, this article navigates through many options, highlighting some key financial pathways to achieve affordable housing by all 3 levels of governments. City […]
Our Urban Design Roundtables
Urban Design Roundtable Series The Future of Transportation in Our Cities When it comes to public transportation, we are missing a lot. To start, we are missing a bold vision, imagination, and a whole lot of determination and political will to make the necessary changes, learn from what works, and implement proven solutions. April 30, […]
More than Letter Swaps: how to shift from TODs to TOCs? By Scaling Down
Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) were initially introduced to optimize land use around transit nodes, creating a model for transportation and land use integration. These developments are situated near higher-order transit, with streets mainly lined with mid-rise and high-rise buildings. They offer a mix of uses, public spaces, and amenities, undoubtedly aiding the shift away from […]
My daughter’s ‘car allergy’: and why it matters for housing and city living
My 4.5-year-old daughter, asked if she’s allergic to anything, confidently says, “I’m allergic to cars.” Hilarious, right? She said that because she easily gets car-sick as we don’t drive very often. Yet, that innocent remark reflects a deeper truth about our cities and their reliance on cars. Why should we care about reducing this reliance? […]
Missing Middle & Affordable Housing in Kitchener
Missing Middle housing has become the type of housing communities wish to see more of. “Middle” could speak to many factors: height, size, income, and demographics. But could it be that we missed the opportunity to achieve the missing middle, and make it affordable? The burning question remains: Does it pencil? Is it feasible? Client: […]
The Story of Rental Apartments in Toronto
The ongoing discourse around rental housing, propelled by a chorus of professional experts, policymakers, and advocates, happens in response to past choices, from rent control measures to the imperative of rental replacement, the risk-averse structure construction is financed today, and of course, the recent announcement by the federal government of GST rebate for new purpose-built […]
Israel’s Kibbutz: A Model of Car-Free, Communal Living and Sustainable Urban Planning We Could All Learn From
Small communities called Kibbutzim faced atrocities during the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023. The Kibuzt is a peaceful, agricultural community, where resources are shared, not privately-owned, and decision-making is collective. All of the Kibbuztim are located within the pre-1967 border, recognized by the international community as the State of Israel. […]
Due Diligence and Acquisition Checklist
Success in real estate acquisition starts with thorough preparation. Our Due Diligence & Acquisition Checklist, meticulously crafted to address the specific considerations of reviewing development sites. Our checklist covers environmental, zoning, and historical considerations that impact the development potential of the site. Sounds like a great tool? It is! Download it here: Here are […]