{"id":62343,"date":"2020-07-22T08:23:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T12:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/?p=62343"},"modified":"2020-12-10T11:19:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T16:19:29","slug":"examples-of-east-side-gentle-density","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/","title":{"rendered":"REID: Examples of east side gentle density"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-49775\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/09\/feature-dylan-reid.gif\" alt=\"Dylan Reid\" width=\"600\" height=\"63\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of the things I started looking out for on my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/arts\/art-and-architecture\/article-house-watching-is-a-social-trend-this-spring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">local walks<\/a> during the our locked-down pandemic spring (in addition to <a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/05\/25\/reid-spotting-and-reviving-the-neighbourhood-corner-commercial-building\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">former corner stores<\/a>) was examples of \u201cgentle density\u201d \u2013 multi-unit buildings tucked in unobtrusively among the houses on residential streets.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s been a lot of talk in Toronto in recent years about <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170307111110\/http:\/\/www.metronews.ca\/news\/toronto\/2017\/03\/07\/brent-toderian-gentle-density-housing.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">gentle density<\/a> \u2013 a term coined by Brent Toderian for the idea of getting more people into residential neighbourhoods without fundamentally altering the house-based nature of those neighbourhoods. (A related term is &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/canurb.org\/publications\/what-is-the-missing-middle-a-toronto-housing-challenge-demystified\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">missing middle<\/a>.&#8221;) Urban planner <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/g_meslin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gil Meslin<\/a>, for example, has been Tweeting examples from all across the city.<\/p>\n<p>Toronto needs to find space for more people \u2013 our population is growing rapidly \u2013 and so far, although the city has created a lot of new places to live, most of them are small condos in tall buildings. The feeling is, it would be good to create a wider variety of spaces in a wider variety of places (what the Ryerson City Building Institute report &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citybuildinginstitute.ca\/portfolio\/density-done-right\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Density Done Right<\/a>&#8221; (p. 9) describes as &#8220;distributed density&#8221;). That way, the city could absorb some of this new population less obtrusively, better support transit and local shops and services thanks to more potential users, spread out the impact on infrastructure, and provide a greater diversity of living options, such as more rental spaces.<\/p>\n<p>Low-rise density is also less expensive to build than high-rise density, which means it has the potential to be more affordable (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citybuildinginstitute.ca\/portfolio\/density-done-right\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryerson CBI report<\/a>, p. 26).<\/p>\n<p>But in much of the city (what Meslin has dubbed \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mapto.ca\/maps\/2017\/3\/4\/the-yellow-belt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Yellowbelt<\/a>\u201d based on its colour in zoning maps), nothing other than detached single-family houses is allowed.<\/p>\n<p>The older parts of the city, including the Danforth area where I live, however, were built before zoning was in place, and the current zoning is more open to a variety of ways of configuring a building, as long as it is more or less the size of a house.<\/p>\n<p>The City of Toronto is <a href=\"http:\/\/app.toronto.ca\/tmmis\/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2020.PH15.6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">currently considering a plan<\/a> to start exploring allowing a wider variety of options in areas where they are currently not allowed. The plan is <a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/07\/lorinc-is-toronto-missing-the-middle-or-missing-the-mark-on-housing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">quite tentative<\/a>, however, because ideas like this often <a href=\"https:\/\/www.treehugger.com\/cities-need-more-gentle-density-4852443\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">face strong opposition<\/a> from existing homeowners anxious about changes to their neighbourhood.<\/p>\n<p>So I thought it would be interesting to explore how gentle density is present in an existing neighbourhood, and show how it is inserted quite unobtrusively amid the existing housing stock. Most of the examples below are purpose-built multi-unit buildings, although a few are conversions from single family homes.<\/p>\n<p>I have stuck to residential streets, not minor arterials where small multi-unit buildings might be more expected. I have not included semi-detached houses \u2013 even though they\u2019re also forbidden in much of the city \u2013 since they are ubiquitous in my neighbourhood. Nor have I included typical townhouses. I also haven\u2019t included basement apartments, because they\u2019re pretty common, can be hard to detect, and are now already allowed anywhere in the city.<\/p>\n<p>Clues to whether a building is multi-residential include multiple doorbells, multiple mailboxes, or multiple utility readers along the side \u2013 although these are not by any means always visible.<\/p>\n<h2>Corners<\/h2>\n<p>It was notable that corners are particularly attractive locations for gentle density (as they are for commercial spaces). As historical geographer Mark Fram notes in an unpublished thesis he kindly shared with me, \u201cPractically, corner locations with rear yards abutting a flanking street offer possibilities of further subdivision and construction that would create an overt nuisance in mid-block locations.\u201d Stretching a building along a corner lot doesn\u2019t inconvenience as many neighbours, and it\u2019s easier to build additional entrances along the side.<\/p>\n<p>The most basic corner gentle density is an apartment at the back of a house, entered from a side entrance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/corner-2nd-unit\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62344\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-62344 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-2nd-unit-600x374.jpg\" alt=\"Corner house with second unit\" width=\"600\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-2nd-unit-600x374.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-2nd-unit-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-2nd-unit-768x479.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-2nd-unit-225x140.jpg 225w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-2nd-unit.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/gertrude-full\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62345\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-62345 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/gertrude-full-600x391.jpg\" alt=\"House with rear apartment\" width=\"600\" height=\"391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/gertrude-full-600x391.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/gertrude-full-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/gertrude-full-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/gertrude-full.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also the classic massive Victorian house divided into apartments. This one has 6 mailboxes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/corner-house\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62346\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62346\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-house-600x392.jpg\" alt=\"Corner house with multiple units\" width=\"600\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-house-600x392.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-house-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-house-768x502.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/corner-house.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But corners are also especially attractive for purpose-built apartments. This one is pretty subtle \u2013 it looks much like a semi, but it actually contains 6 separate units.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/chatham-phin2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62347\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62347\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-Phin2-600x316.jpg\" alt=\"Corner apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-Phin2-600x316.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-Phin2-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-Phin2-768x404.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-Phin2.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Others are more obvious. These ones, though purpose-built, have both front and side entrances to access different apartments.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/apartment-corner-sammon\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62374\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62374\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-sammon-600x341.jpg\" alt=\"Corner apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-sammon-600x341.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-sammon-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-sammon-768x436.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-sammon.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/mountjoy-apartment-monarchpark\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62348\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62348\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-MonarchPark-600x327.jpg\" alt=\"Corner apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-MonarchPark-600x327.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-MonarchPark-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-MonarchPark-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-MonarchPark.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/mountjoy-apartment-lamb-side\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62349\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62349\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-side-600x406.jpg\" alt=\"Corner apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-side-600x406.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-side-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-side-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-side.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/mountjoy-apartment-lamb-front\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62350\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62350\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-front-600x409.jpg\" alt=\"Frontage of corner apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-front-600x409.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-front-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-front-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Mountjoy-apartment-Lamb-front.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This one is kind of a semi-detached apartment building, with different frontages on each half and two doors at the front.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/apartment-corner-dewhurst\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62351\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62351\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-Dewhurst-600x441.jpg\" alt=\"Corner apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-Dewhurst-600x441.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-Dewhurst-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-Dewhurst-768x564.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-corner-Dewhurst.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Mid-block<\/h2>\n<p>Many multi-unit buildings hide mid-block, too however.<\/p>\n<h3>Two-door duplexes<\/h3>\n<p>Last year, a bit of a kerfuffle broke out on social media over <a href=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2019\/04\/02\/lorinc-fiddling-while-toronto-burns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">having two doors at the front of a house<\/a>. City planning proposed new rules allowing secondary suites \u2013 apartments within a house \u2013 everywhere in the city. The Planning and Housing committee added an amendment that would allow the door to these apartments to be at the front of a house even in areas with the most restrictive zoning, but <a href=\"http:\/\/app.toronto.ca\/tmmis\/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2019.PH3.1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">city council removed it<\/a>, prohibiting two front doors in those areas (secondary suite doors would have to be at the side or the back).<\/p>\n<p>Curious about that issue, I began looking out for duplexes with two front doors. They were pretty unobtrusive \u2013 for several of these, I only noticed them on second or third viewing.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/two-doors-4\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62353\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-62353\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-4.jpg\" alt=\"House with two front doors\" width=\"400\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-4.jpg 500w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-4-300x283.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/two-doors-hogarth\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62354\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62354\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-hogarth.jpg\" alt=\"House with two front doors\" width=\"400\" height=\"539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-hogarth.jpg 400w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-hogarth-223x300.jpg 223w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/two-doors-3\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62355\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62355\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-3.jpg\" alt=\"House with two front doors\" width=\"400\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-3.jpg 400w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-3-284x300.jpg 284w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/two-doors-2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62356\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62356\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-2.jpg\" alt=\"House with 2 front doors\" width=\"400\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-2.jpg 400w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-2-245x300.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/two-doors-1\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62357\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62357\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-1.jpg\" alt=\"House with 2 front doors\" width=\"400\" height=\"436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-1-275x300.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a classic old Victorian with two front doors.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/two-doors-victorian\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62358\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62358\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-victorian.jpg\" alt=\"Victorian house with 2 front doors\" width=\"400\" height=\"474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-victorian.jpg 400w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-victorian-253x300.jpg 253w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And here\u2019s a double-double \u2013 semi-detached buildings with two sets of doors each.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/two-doors-twice\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62359\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62359\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-twice-600x402.jpg\" alt=\"Semi-detached house with four front doors\" width=\"600\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-twice-600x402.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-twice-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-twice-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/two-doors-twice.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Triplexes<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s also not that difficult to fit a building with three apartments stacked on top of each other into the footprint of a house.<\/p>\n<p>This elegant triplex \u2013 actually shorter than its single-family neighbours \u2013 is one of my favourites.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/triplex-hogarth\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62362\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62362\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/triplex-Hogarth-600x397.jpg\" alt=\"Elegant triplex\" width=\"600\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/triplex-Hogarth-600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/triplex-Hogarth-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/triplex-Hogarth-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/triplex-Hogarth.jpg 779w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not sure how many apartments this one holds, but it\u2019s likewise barely noticeable amidst houses.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/apartment-northofdanforth\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62363\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62363\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-northofDanforth.jpg\" alt=\"Mid-block apartment\" width=\"500\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-northofDanforth.jpg 500w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-northofDanforth-300x290.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Toronto Specials<\/h2>\n<p>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/real-estate\/toronto\/article-the-toronto-special-ubiquitous-but-unheralded\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Toronto Special<\/a>\u201d is a particularly Torontonian form of residential building, whose origins are lost in time but begin sometime in the mid-twentieth century. It\u2019s distinguished by its boxy shape and a tall window for the stairwell above the door, with horizontal windows beside it that are often layered with decorative brickwork between them.<\/p>\n<p>One of the powers of the Toronto Special is that the same basic design works as both a single-family home and a duplex or triplex. Although most of my area was built up before the Toronto Special was imagined, I began to notice quite a few Toronto Specials inserted here and there (and sometimes whole sets of them). I picked ones where I could see multiple doorbells, mailboxes, or other signs they contain multiple units.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/toronto-special-1\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62364\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62364\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-1-600x450.jpg\" alt=\"Multi-unit Toronto special\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-1-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/toronto-special-3\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62365\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62365\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3.jpg\" alt=\"Multi-unit Toronto special\" width=\"500\" height=\"464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3.jpg 500w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3-300x278.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/toronto-special-3bells-eastyork\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62366\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62366\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-eastyork.jpg\" alt=\"Toronto special\" width=\"400\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-eastyork.jpg 400w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-eastyork-233x300.jpg 233w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/toronto-special-3bells-grey\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62367\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62367\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-grey-600x401.jpg\" alt=\"Toronto specials\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-grey-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-grey-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-grey-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Toronto-special-3bells-grey.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/torontospecials-3bells-woodfield\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62368\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62368\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/torontospecials-3bells-woodfield-600x359.jpg\" alt=\"Toronto specials\" width=\"600\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/torontospecials-3bells-woodfield-600x359.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/torontospecials-3bells-woodfield-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/torontospecials-3bells-woodfield-768x459.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/torontospecials-3bells-woodfield.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Infill<\/h3>\n<p>Another way to add gentle density is to fill in existing spaces or add to existing buildings.<\/p>\n<p>This building, built around an odd old tower (former church?) with a front that looks like a house, in fact hides multiple condo units, visible from the rear laneway. It\u2019s almost like the Tardis in Dr. Who, a modest front hiding a remarkable amount of living space crammed into a couple of lots behind. It\u2019s on a street where the other buildings are all houses, and it doesn\u2019t stand out.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/harcourt\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62370\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62370\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-600x386.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-600x386.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-768x494.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/harcourt-rear\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62371\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62371\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-rear-600x364.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-rear-600x364.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-rear-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-rear-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Harcourt-rear.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is the facade of an old church just north of the Danforth that is being built around, with minimal additional height, to create <a href=\"https:\/\/urbantoronto.ca\/database\/projects\/sunday-school-lofts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">32 units<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/sunday-school-lofts\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62372\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62372\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Sunday-school-lofts-600x383.jpg\" alt=\"Church infill\" width=\"600\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Sunday-school-lofts-600x383.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Sunday-school-lofts-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Sunday-school-lofts-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Sunday-school-lofts.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is a bigger infill project off Pape Avenue. Although it\u2019s all townhouses, I&#8217;ve included it because its extent, covering both sides of several blocks, marks it as a significant increase in density without a significant change in scale.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/townhouses-pape2\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62373\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62373\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/townhouses-Pape2-600x394.jpg\" alt=\"Townhouse infill\" width=\"600\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/townhouses-Pape2-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/townhouses-Pape2-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/townhouses-Pape2-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/townhouses-Pape2.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Full on apartments<\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s also a few examples of full on apartment buildings tucked into residential streets here and there.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a simple, elegant apartment building amidst the houses on Sammon.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/apartment-sammon\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62375\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62375\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-sammon-600x410.jpg\" alt=\"Mid-block apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-sammon-600x410.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-sammon-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-sammon-768x525.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-sammon.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This apartment building, which seems to be quite ugly, modestly hides 5 units behind a large fir tree.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/hidden-4mailboxes-hogarth\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62376\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62376\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/hidden-4mailboxes-Hogarth-600x399.jpg\" alt=\"Hidden apartment building\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/hidden-4mailboxes-Hogarth-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/hidden-4mailboxes-Hogarth-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/hidden-4mailboxes-Hogarth-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/hidden-4mailboxes-Hogarth.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This one is discreet because it\u2019s up a hill, out of the line of sight, and backing onto railway tracks.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/apartment-ivy\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62381\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62381\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Ivy.jpg\" alt=\"Apartment - mid-block, up hill\" width=\"400\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Ivy.jpg 400w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Ivy-274x300.jpg 274w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This set of apartments is just north of the Danforth. The townhouse-like styling makes them quite unobtrusive.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/apartment-eaton\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62377\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62377\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Eaton-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Mid-block apartment\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Eaton-600x440.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Eaton-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Eaton-768x564.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/apartment-Eaton.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Public Housing<\/h3>\n<p>Quite a lot of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.torontohousing.ca\/our-housing\">public housing<\/a> is inserted quietly into east end streets.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example that also uses townhouse-like styling to blend in.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/chatham-front\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62378\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62378\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-front-600x300.jpg\" alt=\"Public housing apartments\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-front-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-front-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-front-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/Chatham-front.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This more obviously apartment-style public housing is hidden away behind a school.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/phin-park\/#main\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-62379\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62379\" src=\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/phin-park-600x292.jpg\" alt=\"Public housing apartment\" width=\"600\" height=\"292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/phin-park-600x292.jpg 600w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/phin-park-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/phin-park-768x373.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/07\/phin-park.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These examples are almost all within a couple of kilometres of my home; at the same time, there&#8217;s rarely more than one within a block, so they remain unobtrusive. It\u2019s a remarkable range of building types, but all of them provide more than one housing unit. They enable a wider range of people to live in this walkable, transit-friendly area and, through that, they help support local businesses. All that, while most of them don&#8217;t take up much more street frontage or height than a large house or a set of standard rowhouses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; One of the things I started looking out for on my local walks during the our locked-down pandemic spring (in addition to former corner stores) was examples of \u201cgentle density\u201d \u2013 multi-unit buildings tucked in unobtrusively among the houses on residential streets. There\u2019s been a lot of talk in Toronto in recent years about<a href=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;REID: Examples of east side gentle density&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4006,"featured_media":62383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,33,18,22369],"tags":[22389,22387,22096,22391,22388,22392,22244,22390,21821],"class_list":["post-62343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-architecture","category-housing","category-neighbourhoods","category-pandemic","tag-apartments","tag-gentle-density","tag-housing","tag-infill-housing","tag-missing-middle","tag-multi-unit","tag-rental-housing","tag-yellowbelt","tag-zoning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>REID: Examples of east side gentle density - Spacing Toronto<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/07\/22\/examples-of-east-side-gentle-density\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"REID: Examples of east side gentle density - Spacing Toronto\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; One of the things I started looking out for on my local walks during the our locked-down pandemic spring (in addition to former corner stores) was examples of \u201cgentle density\u201d \u2013 multi-unit buildings tucked in unobtrusively among the houses on residential streets. 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