Affordable Housing and Neighbourhood Improvement

The conservation of heritage buildings does not only serve a
historical or cultural purpose, it can serve a practical purpose as
well. By maintaining and adapting heritage buildings communities
are able to create affordable housing options and contribute to
overall neighbourhood improvement. Turning buildings into homes and
neighbourhoods into vibrant communities, heritage conservation is a
catalyst for change!
A municipality may meet its goals of heritage conservation and
increased affordable housing supply simultaneously. What's more,
using existing buildings can lower construction costs by
approximately 5% to10%. (CMHC: Converting Non-Residential
Buildings, 2006)
Canadian cities recognize the potential
of adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in implementing affordable
housing:
There are many compelling examples of affordable housing
strategies implemented through the adaptive reuse of industrial and
commercial heritage buildings.
A municipality may meet its goals of heritage
conservation and increased affordable housing supply
simultaneously. What's more, using existing buildings can lower
construction costs by approximately 5% to10%. (CMHC:
Converting Non-Residential Buildings, 2006)
In Montreal, Quebec:
- The Angus Shops, a former Canadian Pacific Railway maintenance
complex, has been converted into 2,500 housing units, with 60%
rented at market price and 40% dedicated to co-operative,
non-profit, and public housing arrangements. (Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation: Redeveloping Sites, 2006)
In Toronto, Ontario:
- The historic Coxwell Stables, a former horse stable complex
used by Toronto Public Works, was redeveloped into 11 affordable
housing units managed by the City of Toronto's non-profit housing
organization. The redevelopment cost per unit was less than
$100,000, well below the maximum unit price level set by the
province for affordable housing. (Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation: Converting Non-Residential Buildings, 2006)
In Kitchener, Ontario:
- A surplus one-storey Hydro Commission substation was converted
into a two-storey house for a low-income household. The total
cost of rehabilitation and construction, including purchasing the
land and building, came to just over $100,000. The converted house
was subsequently rented for $725/month, almost $200/month less than
the market rent for a comparable dwelling in the city. (Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Converting Non-Residential
Buildings, 2006)
In Vancouver, British Columbia:
- Mole Hill, the City's only intact Victorian and Edwardian
neighbourhood, has been transformed by a community revitalization
project that saw the restoration of 27 heritage houses to include
170 units of affordable housing, along with the creation of a
childcare centre, community gardens, and a hospice serving people
with HIV/AIDS. (CivicInfo BC, 2004)
Heritage conservation improves
neighbourhood livability:
A survey conducted after the rehabilitation of the historic
Stanley Theatre in Vancouver, B.C., found that a high percentage of
area residents believed there was an improvement or significant
improvement in several key neighbourhood quality factors:
- Cleanliness 28%
- Cultural diversity 51%
- Business diversity 56%
- Community activities 32%
- Pedestrian traffic increase 69%
76% of residents surveyed said that the
rehabilitation and re-opening of the Stanley Theatre has had a
positive impact on the community. (Ryerson University,
2003)
Heritage conservation triggers positive
socio-demographic changes:
The rehabilitation of the Stanley Theatre brought about major
socio-demographic changes to the surrounding area:
- Number of households owning dwellings increased from 17% to
25%;
- Occupants with a university degree increased by 24.5%, and now
represent 48.4% of the population;
- The unemployment rate decreased to 5.5%, while Vancouver's
average is 8.6%;
- Female labour force participation rate increased from 70.8% to
74.2%, whereas the Vancouver average is 61%;
- Total crimes decreased by an average of 26%;
- Assaults and major thefts decreased by a greater amount than in
the rest of Vancouver;
- Restaurants, cafes, and bars increased by 21%;
- Cultural establishments increased by 9%
(Ryerson University, 2003)
Resources
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). 2006.
Redeveloping and Renovating: Converting Non-Residential Buildings.
Found at
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/imhoaf/afhoid/rere/conorebu/index.cfm.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) 2006.
Redevelopment and Renovation: Redeveloping Sites. Found at
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/imhoaf/afhoid/rere/resi/index.cfm.
CivicInfo BC. 2004. Heritage Houses Provide Affordable Homes.
Found at: http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/302n.asp?newsid=1201.
Jones, K. et al. 2003. Beyond Anecdotal Evidence: The
Spillover Effects of Investments in Cultural Facilities. Ryerson
University.