Tower Renewal & Regent Park Final
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It is not surprising that access to services is an issue in tower neighbourhoods. That is because most of<br />
the tower neighbourhoods are located in the City's 13 priority neighbourhoods and they have been identified<br />
as being underserved by the City services and amenities (<strong>Tower</strong> <strong>Renewal</strong>, 2011). The lack of access to these<br />
services have significant implications to the resident's quality of life.<br />
According to the City's apartment neighbourhood zoning bylaw, only dwellings are allowed in tower<br />
neighbourhoods and all other land use is deemed illegal. That includes drug stores, banks, clothing stores,<br />
coffee shops, places of worship etc. Fortunately, the <strong>Tower</strong> <strong>Renewal</strong> Program has a key initiative that directly<br />
solves the issue of single use zoning by law. It has created the Residential Apartment Commercial (RAC) zoning<br />
bylaw to implement mixed-land use within tower neighbourhoods. This will be further discussed under the<br />
<strong>Tower</strong> <strong>Renewal</strong>: Implementation Programs section.<br />
Economic: improved local economy activity<br />
<strong>Tower</strong> <strong>Renewal</strong>, Sept 2011<br />
The <strong>Tower</strong> <strong>Renewal</strong> program's retrofitting projects will have important economic implications with the<br />
creation of significant number of jobs in the construction and building industry. It is estimated by industry<br />
experts that it will take 20 years to complete the retrofitting projects for all of Toronto's tower buildings<br />
(<strong>Tower</strong> <strong>Renewal</strong>, 2011). The <strong>Tower</strong> <strong>Renewal</strong> Program will also foster the development of local businesses<br />
with the implementation of the RAC zoning bylaw. This will permit a number of small scale commercial and<br />
community uses on apartment building sites. This also means that residents, particularly single parents, can<br />
have the option of acquiring employment near their place of dwelling, and will not have to travel far<br />
distances on public transit. Instead, they will have more time and opportunity to be with their family. The<br />
improvement in local economic activity will contribute to the vibrancy of tower neighbourhoods and the<br />
increased quality of life of its residents.<br />
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