@unpublished{297,
  author = {CMHC},
  title = {Redevelopment and Renovation: Converting Non-Residential Buildings},
  abstract = {<p>Annotation by Kyle Kellam. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation\&rsquo;s \&ldquo;Converting Non-Residential Buildings\&rdquo; web-article is one in a series of online strategy tools intended to address the issue of affordable housing and introduce residents, developers and government to alternatives for developing affordable housing projects. The web-resource outlines how through adaptive reuse, non-residential buildings can be converted to affordable housing, including which buildings are most conducive for redevelopment, and what the financial benefits of adaptive reuse are, the advantages and issues associated with non-residential building conversion, and the effectiveness of the strategy. Also provided are two case studies of adaptive reuse affordable housing projects, including Coxwell Stables in Toronto, and Hydro House in Kitchener. Coxwell Stables involved the conversion of a 100 year old horse stable into eleven market rent and rent-geared-to-income dwelling units to be managed by the Toronto Housing Company. The second case study outlines Kitchener Housing Inc.\&rsquo;s conversion of a one-storey hydro substation deemed surplus by the Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Commission into a two-storey house for a low-income family. CMHC concludes that non-residential building conversion can decrease development costs by 5-15\%, and that the best outmoded buildings for adaptive reuse include old hospitals, inns, warehouses and schools, this due to their similar, yet flexible floor plans and servicing. The financial benefits of adaptive reuse verses new construction affordable housing can include the building\&rsquo;s structure and servicing already existing, faster construction, there is less neighbourhood opposition, and increased unit design flexibility due to the high ceilings of industrial buildings. Unfortunately, the article only scratches the surface of adaptive reuse and lacks much real detail, particularly in respect to the land acquisition and construction processes. Similarly, the CMHC relies on too few sources for its information and fails to provide justification or evidence for their financial figures. Furthermore, it only lists the issues and concerns associated with building conversion, but fails to explore or expand upon them. Lastly, it focuses solely upon the financial benefits of adaptive reuse, and neglects to address planning benefits, particularly heritage planning. For this reason, it would appear that the tools are geared towards land developers and members of government specifically, appealing to the language of dollars and cents, and attempting to persuade developers that affordable housing and adaptive reuse can in fact be a feasible venture. The online tool succeeds as a succinct and easy-to-read introduction to adaptive reuse as a strategy for affordable housing. Its straight forward, step-by-step format is simple and intuitive, allowing readers to learn the main points quickly and move onto the following affordable housing strategy ideas, thereby contributing towards a comprehensive collection. Additionally, the article poses a compelling and persuasive argument that adaptive reuse can be an affordable alternative to new construction affordable housing projects. If a developer takes the idea into consideration and researches non-residential conversion further, or explores adaptive reuse opportunities in their respective city, then I expect the article will have satisfied the CMHC\&rsquo;s intentions when developing this resource.</p>},
  year = {2006},
  note = {Unknown},
}