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m IE S CI T
On the eve of International Women’s Day, we introduce
HOW TO DESIGN A CITY FOR WOMEN (There are six ways to make urban living better for all)
Toronto
FEMINISM
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TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017
Actress Wendy Olunike Adeliyi says she was denied entrance to the Kingsway Movie Theatre recently because she was carrying a backpack. Theatre owner Rui Pereira denies what happened next was due to racism. EDUARDO LIMA/METRO
IN THIS CITY You can never let your guard down. Vicky Mochama on racism in Toronto metroNEWS
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A new lease on laneway houses CODE RED: TORONTO’S HOUSING CRISIS
Depending on the results of the pilot project, the next phase is 40–50 more in the same area, where the university owns most of the land. It’s all part of a neighbourhood plan they developed with the residents association. They don’t expect as many roadblocks May as a typical laneway project, but they will Warren still have to clear city-planning approvMetro | Toronto als, Burke said. Evergreen Brick Works senior project The University of Toronto is planning to build two laneway houses in the Annex manager Jo Flatt has been pushing for by next year and could build up to 40–50 the city to ease current zoning restricmore as the city explores one possible tions around laneway housing, along with solution to Toronto’s housing woes. councillors Mary-Margaret McMahon and Christine Burke, director of campus Ana Bailão and laneway advocacy group and facilities planning at U of T, said the Lanescape. university aims to build the homes as Flatt sees unlocking the potential of housing for grad students laneway suites as one way or visiting faculty across the to address the lack of housstreet from Robarts Library. ing supply. “It makes sense to us be“It allows you to have accause it’s an opportunity to cess in communities where do light touch intensificayou can’t build a highrise,” tion to the neighbourhood,” she said. said Burke. Homeowners who need It also provides more a little extra cash could also housing options and the benefit from what’s “essenpotential for more stabil- U of T is looking to build tially a basement apartment ity in the neighbourhood laneway houses like this put in the back of your lot,” through longer leases, she in the Annex. she added. added. EDUARDO LIMA/METRO There are over 2,400 Sometimes called granny laneways across 300 km suites, laneway suites are small detached in Toronto, according Michelle Senayah, units usually found at the back of residen- co-founder and director of The Laneway tial lots adjacent to alleyways. Project. Other Canadian cities have already Burke hopes construction can be com- developed policies that make building pleted by fall 2018. laneway suites easier, including Vancouver.
Alley suites the best idea university has for grad students
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