Families need space in high-density areas
There is a remarkable trend happening in condominium neighbourhoods across the GTA — and especially in the city of Toronto: families are being raised in highdensity communities.
Census data shows that 42 per cent of all people in Toronto reside in condos and the city of Toronto reports that, as of 2011, 32 per cent of households with children lived in midrise and highrise buildings.
The city has responded with a study looking at how best to accommodate the needs of children in high-density areas. “Growing Up: Planning for Children in New Verti- cal Communities” includes public consultation and will explore issues such as unit size and layout, building and city amenities and the design of the public spaces.
The building and land development industry is responding to the demand for family-friendly condos and a key component is to design suites that are practical and appealing to parents with young children.
That means maximizing living space to keep the homes affordable, while ensuring there is ample space to store toys, bicycles and strollers.
For children in the inner city, playgrounds should be located within the surrounding neighbourhood. The city and the development industry have met the challenge by creating innovative public spaces for families such as Canoe Landing Park at CityPlace, Underpass Park in the River City development and Sherbourne Common on East Bayfront. The Bentway, which is currently under construction, is a unique space under the Gardiner from Strachan Ave. to Bathurst St. that will also include a skating rink.
In CityPlace, two elementary schools, Bishop Macdonell Catholic and Jean Lumb Public, are now under construction, along with Canoe Landing Child Care Centre and Canoe Landing Community Centre, which includes a gym and outdoor play areas. All of these facilities are in one building, making it a great place for neighbourhood children to get to know each other.
At Bathurst St. and Queens Quay Blvd. W., the Waterfront School for students from junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 shares space with City School, a high school that focuses on the environment. The Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre, also in the same building, offers programs for kids as well as their parents and grandparents, and features outdoor and indoor basketball courts.
Another great example is Emerald City, at Don Mills Rd. and Sheppard Ave. E., a community of mid-rises, highrises and townhomes that have put family lifestyle at the forefront with outdoor play areas and a lot of kid-friendly amenities. Built in an already-established community, there are many schools, daycare centres, lots of shops and transit already in place. With the addition of the Parkway Forest Community Centre and Park, the Emerald City district is seeing an influx of young families.
As prices of new lowrise homes in the GTA continue to reach all-time highs, more and more families are calling new condominiums home. Our industry is at the forefront of the way people live in Toronto. Bryan Tuckey is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. Find him at twitter.com/ bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta and bildblogs.ca.