ARC3015YF (L0108)
Instructors: Shane Laptiste & Tura Cousins Wilson

This course explores community land trusts (CLT) as an alternative housing model outside of private ownership, market rental, and city operated subsidized housing. Key questions include: How can community-led affordable housing support more vibrant and inclusive neighbourhoods? How can we reimagine the built form of single-family house neighbourhoods in Toronto? What non-residential uses can be mixed with housing? And how can a culturally distinct area evolve while maintaining its unique character?

Working collaboratively with the newly formed Eglinton-Vaughan CLT located in Toronto's Little Jamaica Community, the course will support on-the-ground work this organization has initiated to develop community-led affordable housing. Students will learn what a CLT is, how they operate, and various typologies that can accommodate them such as multiplexes, point-access blocks and mid-rise among others. Though the focus is local, students will be encouraged to investigate and research innovative CLTs and other alternative housing models found globally.

Coursework will be divided into sequential research and analysis assignments, including walking tours, guest lectures, zoning review, neighbourhood mapping, historical analysis, precedent studies, speculative visioning and more. This will be culminated by a final project developing the design of a specific community landtrust. From the design of the neighbourhood block, to cultural character, to program, to individual unit types, students will be encouraged to think critically and visionary about what creates quality community-led housing and how neighbourhoods like Little Jamaica and organizations like Eglinton-Vaughan CLT can lead the way in new forms of urbanity and housing in Toronto.