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House Divided: How the Missing Middle Will Solve Toronto's Housing Crisis
Housing is increasingly unattainable in successful global cities, and Toronto is no exception -- in part because of zoning that protects “stable” residential neighborhoods with high property values. House Divided is a citizen’s guide for changing the way housing can work in big cities. Using Toronto as a case study, this anthology unpacks the affordability crisis and offers innovative ideas for creating housing for all ages and demographic groups. With charts, maps, data, and policy prescriptions, House Divided poses tough questions about the issue that will make or break the global city of the future.
267 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2019
12 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
John Lorinc
17 books14 followersJohn Lorinc is an award-winning journalist who has contributed to Toronto Life, The Globe and Mail, National Post, Saturday Night, Report on Business, and Quill & Quire, among other publications, and was the editor of The Ward Uncovered: The Archaeology of Everyday Life (Coach House Books, 2018) and The Ward: The Life and Loss of Toronto's First Immigrant Neighbourhood (Coach House Books, 2015). He has written extensively on amalgamation, education, sprawl, and other city issues. He is the recipient of two National Magazine Awards for his coverage of urban affairs.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 6, 2024
chicken noodle soup for the Toronto urbanist’s soul
A collection of good and a couple really bad essays about Toronto housing. The book was interesting enough. Learned a thing or two about the absurdity of Toronto and its deep hatred for walk up apartment buildings and the kafkaesque zoning system which keeps them from getting built.
The cover says “how the missing middle can solve Toronto’s affordability crisis”, but the format doesn’t exactly lead to clear coherent solution. Granted, the book mentions early on that since it’s a collection of views from many people it won’t try to do that but then.. what really is the point of this book?
Not sure, but, good luck Toronto. Go… build something, anything, please.
A collection of good and a couple really bad essays about Toronto housing. The book was interesting enough. Learned a thing or two about the absurdity of Toronto and its deep hatred for walk up apartment buildings and the kafkaesque zoning system which keeps them from getting built.
The cover says “how the missing middle can solve Toronto’s affordability crisis”, but the format doesn’t exactly lead to clear coherent solution. Granted, the book mentions early on that since it’s a collection of views from many people it won’t try to do that but then.. what really is the point of this book?
Not sure, but, good luck Toronto. Go… build something, anything, please.
December 8, 2019
Eye-opening and alarming, just considering that the current political climate in Toronto, coupled with widespread homeowner resistance, doesn't give one much hope for change. My own neighbourhood is cited as an example of gentle density in the few blocks near the main street and high-order transit. That's the reason I moved here, and the only reason I could afford to, and yet a homeowner on my street has called my beautiful 1937 walk-up apartment building "the slums" simply because it's not a detached or semi-detached house. The very features that make neighbourhoods more lively, livable, walkable and dynamic - low-rise apartments, duplexes, triplexes - are not permitted on 2/3 of Toronto land designated for residential dwelling. And all the while, established neighbourhoods are becoming less dense and less sustainable, in danger of losing schools, parks and libraries, because fewer people are living in each detached house. All in the name of "character" and "stability."
Basically, Toronto has deliberately decided that even the most unobtrusive ways of adding density aren't allowed. Sound planning.
House Divided was a bit repetitive, with many essays touching on similar points or mentioning the same facts, but on the whole, everything was written in a straightforward, accessible style, so I understood everything despite having no background in housing or urban planning.
Basically, Toronto has deliberately decided that even the most unobtrusive ways of adding density aren't allowed. Sound planning.
House Divided was a bit repetitive, with many essays touching on similar points or mentioning the same facts, but on the whole, everything was written in a straightforward, accessible style, so I understood everything despite having no background in housing or urban planning.
April 5, 2021
This book looks at housing affordability in the City of Toronto and one specific solution – fleshing out the “missing middle” of mid-rise housing by introducing “gentle density” (three-storey walk-up apartments, triplexes, etc.) into the large area of Toronto (the yellowbelt) that is zoned as residential neighbourhoods. In these areas, zoning restrictions make it a risky and lengthy (if not impossible) path through the development approvals process to build anything other than a single-family home. Different essays in this book cover a mixture of policy/zoning topics and architectural solutions of what types of buildings might work best.
The core argument of this book is hard to argue with. Many of these existing neighbourhoods, including the one I live in, are facing declining population (simply because families are smaller, so each single-family home holds less people than it did a generation or two ago), leading to less business for local stores, declining school enrolment, etc. Yet at the same time, Toronto as a whole is growing, and this growth is accommodated solely by massive towers ill-suited to families or sprawling homes on freshly paved farmland on the fringes of the Toronto area, a massive problem both environmentally and in relation to the quality of life of people faced with long commutes.
If you’re interested in planning policy in Toronto, this is a must-read. For those interested in urban policy in other cities, this book still has some good ideas to offer, although they will need to be adapted, as it is hyperlocal in its details – focusing very specifically on the City of Toronto and many of the specific nuances of Toronto’s official plan and related policies.
The core argument of this book is hard to argue with. Many of these existing neighbourhoods, including the one I live in, are facing declining population (simply because families are smaller, so each single-family home holds less people than it did a generation or two ago), leading to less business for local stores, declining school enrolment, etc. Yet at the same time, Toronto as a whole is growing, and this growth is accommodated solely by massive towers ill-suited to families or sprawling homes on freshly paved farmland on the fringes of the Toronto area, a massive problem both environmentally and in relation to the quality of life of people faced with long commutes.
If you’re interested in planning policy in Toronto, this is a must-read. For those interested in urban policy in other cities, this book still has some good ideas to offer, although they will need to be adapted, as it is hyperlocal in its details – focusing very specifically on the City of Toronto and many of the specific nuances of Toronto’s official plan and related policies.
May 22, 2021
the law should require newly elected councilors and newly hired city planning staff to read this book cover to cover before they step foot into city hall
July 2, 2020
This book is an anthology of essays about the City of Toronto and the history of its development, written by 33 contributors with a variety of backgrounds and vocations - architects, reporters, urban and heritage planners, professors, a ‘partnership strategy consultant’ for affordable housing and social housing, an urban geographer and others. As the log line suggests, The city has an affordability crisis and the proposed solution is logical - gentler density development in low density areas. However, policies see: Proposals for a New Plan Toronto (1965)/ Official Plan restricts developers to build higher density infrastructure in residential areas, an area that accounts for 60% of Toronto’s residential land. Intensification seems to be limited to the main corridor roads of Toronto. The history of the City of Toronto’s contempt for apartment living is well documented. The conversation of social implications of neighbourhood preservation/NIMBYism in a time of low vacancy rates is the apparent issue carried through the anthology.
There is a lot of repetition between the essays. Many of them referencing the same policies and events (the 1912 apartment ban, Jane Jacobs ‘sidewalk ballet’ ideology and the 60’s new development opposition). There are others. As a person interested in urban planning, but not remotely in the field of it, I found the recall of material between essays helpful to discern the milestone events for the City of Toronto. I also enjoyed the transparency of zoning categories as well.
There is a lot of repetition between the essays. Many of them referencing the same policies and events (the 1912 apartment ban, Jane Jacobs ‘sidewalk ballet’ ideology and the 60’s new development opposition). There are others. As a person interested in urban planning, but not remotely in the field of it, I found the recall of material between essays helpful to discern the milestone events for the City of Toronto. I also enjoyed the transparency of zoning categories as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2019
What an interesting anthology! Coach house books and John Lorinc never fail to disappoint! Toronto is in the middle of a housing crisis. Often politicians blame supply and demand economics but it goes so much deeper than that- House Divided explores the causes of the affordability crisis in Toronto.
I was worried this book would be a difficult read packed with technical planning terms, theories, and jargo, but it was surprisingly accessible. Lorinc and the team of authors explore the cause, impact, and effects of the housing and affordability crisis, as well possible solutions. Terms are laid out in simple ways and ample explanation is provided to the reader.
The anthologies thesis is that Toronto is missing a crucial “middle”. That is, duplexes, triplexes, and walk up apartments. The authors argue that exclusionary zoning has artificially created a crisis (I say artificial because there are millions of empty bedrooms in Toronto that could alleviate the situation) and hampered our density. The authors argue that Toronto can increase its density, decrease prices, and alleviate the crisis by adding this middle type of housing.
The book is laid out is a linear fashion (from past to future) and calls upon diverse voices to detail the situation in Toronto.
I was worried this book would be a difficult read packed with technical planning terms, theories, and jargo, but it was surprisingly accessible. Lorinc and the team of authors explore the cause, impact, and effects of the housing and affordability crisis, as well possible solutions. Terms are laid out in simple ways and ample explanation is provided to the reader.
The anthologies thesis is that Toronto is missing a crucial “middle”. That is, duplexes, triplexes, and walk up apartments. The authors argue that exclusionary zoning has artificially created a crisis (I say artificial because there are millions of empty bedrooms in Toronto that could alleviate the situation) and hampered our density. The authors argue that Toronto can increase its density, decrease prices, and alleviate the crisis by adding this middle type of housing.
The book is laid out is a linear fashion (from past to future) and calls upon diverse voices to detail the situation in Toronto.
March 9, 2022
This book makes far too many excuses for the damages done by real estate capital while pointing to NIMBYs as the boogeyman. It is also quite repetitive between chapters by different authors, with most chapters trying to hammer in the same point.
While I agree with the general thesis about older suburbs near the core being opposed to new residents even as their populations have declined, it leans too heavily on urban design as a solution. It also relies on paternalistic and moralistic positions against individuals that don’t examine the wider political economy.
Some of the design solutions were cool, but there are better books out there.
While I agree with the general thesis about older suburbs near the core being opposed to new residents even as their populations have declined, it leans too heavily on urban design as a solution. It also relies on paternalistic and moralistic positions against individuals that don’t examine the wider political economy.
Some of the design solutions were cool, but there are better books out there.
July 31, 2021
Absolute must-read for the subject of housing/land-use policy and politics in Toronto. The collection of essays do a comprehensive look into the history of housing through the 20th century, how NIMBYism is baked into the city's official plan and processes, how our housing policies harm virtually every demographic of people, and more.
It's now my top book recommendation for anyone who wants to read about urban planning issues relating to Toronto (sorry John Sewell).
It's now my top book recommendation for anyone who wants to read about urban planning issues relating to Toronto (sorry John Sewell).
January 2, 2023
House divided is an informative and eye-opening book that explains how our affordable housing crisis is in large part due to the zoning of exclusively single-family neighbourhoods (in Toronto, but this applies to most North American cities). It's an amazing tool for anyone working in municipal urban planning and on housing and affordability.
August 15, 2019
Educational, eye-opening and inspiring
January 17, 2023
Reads more like a textbook. Lots of information about the missing middle and solutions that can be implemented in Toronto.
June 15, 2024
Having such a wide range of essay authors on this complex topic made for a really well-rounded view.
December 31, 2024
This was published in 2019 so I'm curious to know how things have changed due to the pandemic...
Toronto's landscape has changed so much and I've always been curious on the historical context of certain landmark neighbourhoods and relating it to what's going on now and what we should be doing in the future.
I learned a lot about the NIMBYism of things when it comes to changing policies and zoning regulations.
Some quotes I found very insightful about Toronto's Housing Crisis:
"Housing market is not dynamic enough to accommodate a population that is simultaneously aging and becoming more diverse."
"Canada is one among few Western countries to depend nearly entirely on market mechanisms for its housing stock. About 95% of Canadian households currently obtain their housing through the open market. However, households living in poverty with poor social safety nets don't have enough spending power to influence private housing developers, which means the housing markets tend not to respond to their needs."
"The notion of 'cleansing' a neighbourhood speaks to a white spatial imagination that dreams of a fictional space where stability, stratified wealth, and modern aesthetics coalesce and become understood as a beautification project. This dream is staged through intensified exploitation of service workers, a pronounced investment in security technologies, mass displacement of local communities, and moral panics that criminalize the poor and equity-seeking community members. It is this white spatial imagination that is central to the neo-colonial project of gentrification, which aims to reconfigure racial and class formations and local economies in order to create and profit from a widening gap between deeply affordable and market-rent units."
I became slightly optimistic reading about the following: 1) Vienna's radical approach to social housing 2) Urbanarium's work as a nonprofit group in Metro Vancouver (https://urbanarium.org/) 3) The Red Door Family Shelter in South Riverdale exemplifying a collective effort between strong local community presence, developers, and progressive politicians. 4) Parkdale's collective resistance against gentrification and predatory landlords.
I'm still hopeful that we can all fight for affordable housing that strengthens communities, respects and includes all, and protects the environment. There are some excellent guidelines/pitches from Torontonians on how to make housing more affordable. What are we waiting for?
Toronto's landscape has changed so much and I've always been curious on the historical context of certain landmark neighbourhoods and relating it to what's going on now and what we should be doing in the future.
I learned a lot about the NIMBYism of things when it comes to changing policies and zoning regulations.
Some quotes I found very insightful about Toronto's Housing Crisis:
"Housing market is not dynamic enough to accommodate a population that is simultaneously aging and becoming more diverse."
"Canada is one among few Western countries to depend nearly entirely on market mechanisms for its housing stock. About 95% of Canadian households currently obtain their housing through the open market. However, households living in poverty with poor social safety nets don't have enough spending power to influence private housing developers, which means the housing markets tend not to respond to their needs."
"The notion of 'cleansing' a neighbourhood speaks to a white spatial imagination that dreams of a fictional space where stability, stratified wealth, and modern aesthetics coalesce and become understood as a beautification project. This dream is staged through intensified exploitation of service workers, a pronounced investment in security technologies, mass displacement of local communities, and moral panics that criminalize the poor and equity-seeking community members. It is this white spatial imagination that is central to the neo-colonial project of gentrification, which aims to reconfigure racial and class formations and local economies in order to create and profit from a widening gap between deeply affordable and market-rent units."
I became slightly optimistic reading about the following: 1) Vienna's radical approach to social housing 2) Urbanarium's work as a nonprofit group in Metro Vancouver (https://urbanarium.org/) 3) The Red Door Family Shelter in South Riverdale exemplifying a collective effort between strong local community presence, developers, and progressive politicians. 4) Parkdale's collective resistance against gentrification and predatory landlords.
I'm still hopeful that we can all fight for affordable housing that strengthens communities, respects and includes all, and protects the environment. There are some excellent guidelines/pitches from Torontonians on how to make housing more affordable. What are we waiting for?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews