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)