How to Rethink the Suburbs: A Lesson From Toronto

Cities all over the world need to take a close look at their suburbs. In many cases, low-density development correlates with a lack of transit and other infrastructure. Often, neighborhoods struggle to achieve the critical mass of human activity required for thriving small economies and healthy communities.

Many of Greater Toronto’s inner suburbs grapple with exactly these issues. But they are about to see dramatic change: a new zoning bylaw could mean that hundreds of neighborhoods go from being underused concrete deserts to vibrant communities, teeming with activity.

This creative approach to zoning provides an instructive case for urban areas in all parts of the globe.

The problem

Uniquely for a North American city, Toronto’s inner suburbs contain about two thousand towers. They currently house almost a million residents — about a sixth of the metropolitan area’s population. Until this point, zoning in these neighborhoods has made simple things like cafés, grocers, and community gardens illegal. This outmoded and highly restrictive policy has affected countless lives.