While municipal planning efforts have focused on the strategic growth of urban centres, avenues, and transit corridors, there has been a concurrent concentration of poverty in Toronto’s inner suburbs marked by race and gender. This is due, in part, to the exclusionary economic practices that accompany development and gentrification - rising property values, unaffordable housing stock, wealthier demographics - which contribute to the the displacement and marginalization of Parkdale’s community members either to the outskirts or the streets. 

How can we ensure that low-income community members are beneficiaries, rather than casualties, of neighbourhood development? Planning for  neighbourhood growth and development needs to center community needs first and foremost, rather than highest and best use as defined by density and profit. The authors call for equitable development that respects and benefits existing community members, that values people's lives over profits, and that promotes development without displacement. 

The following framework provides a guide for public and private sector actors to support community benefits in Parkdale by following the vision of community members. 

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Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • What's in it for Parkdale? 
  • What is the Purpose of this Framework? 
  • What are Community Benefits?               
  • What is Our Vision? 
  • How was this Framework Created? 
  • What is the Parkdale People's Economy? 
  • How to Use this Framework? 
• Community Benefits Demands: Summary 
  • Community Benefits Demands and Targets  
• Equitable Process
  • Accessible Consultations
  • Equity Impact Assessment
  • Community Planning Board 
  • Community Benefits Agreements              
• Affordable Housing 
  • Building Shared Language                    
  • Affordable Housing Targets                   
  • Adequacy and Accessibility 
  • How to Achieve Targets: Community              
  • How to Achieve Targets: Policy              
• Affordable Commercial 
  • Affordable Commercial Targets              
  • How to Achieve Targets: Policy               
  • How to Achieve Targets: Community              
• Decent Work
  • Construction, Renovation, and Retrofit   
  • Housing Operations
  • Business Operations
  • Wraparound Supports 
  • Mandating Social Procurement   
  • Employment and Industrial Lands
  • Promoting a Cultural Shift around Decent Work 
• Community Assets
  • Community Space
  • Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Neighbourhood Wellbeing
• Conclusion
• Works Cited & Appendix
  • Affordable Housing