Tower Renewal & Regent Park Final

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Social inclusion is the main ethos of the Regent Park revitalization, and the new public amenities built in the neighbourhood has given everyone the opportunity to participate in activities outside their homes, and interact and learn from other people, regardless of class, race, gender or religion. The amenities include a big open greenspace which serves as the community park, a state-of-the-art Aquatic Centre, a community centre, an arts and cultural centre, also known as Daniels Spectrum, a football field and an outdoor ice rink. Regent Park Aquatic Centre Daniels Spectrum There are community services that have been operating in Regent Park before the revitalization. These are the Regent Park Community Health Centre and the CRC Regent Park Community Food Centre. They are both not-for-profit organizations with the common goal of supporting low-income families, immigrants, refugee, non-status, and marginalized populations who have been experiencing immense inequities when it comes to access to services that can improve their well-being. They have been in the forefront of advocating for the improvement of Regent Park. All of these facilities and commercial spaces serve the important purpose of creating a neighbourhood that is socially inclusive and accessible for everyone; valuing community, creativity, fitness, health, equity and social justice. Although Regent Park was not conducted under the Tower Renewal Program, the revitalization plan and objective of the neighbourhood highly reflects the goals and aspirations of the Tower Renewal Program. Regent Park's new townhouses and high-rise buildings are better equipped with building systems that are up to date with current building regulations and are more environmentally efficient. The introduction of a mixed-income community has broken down the wall that is separating people who live in public housing, and people who live in market-value dwellings. This has important implications on the social networks created among the residents. The new amenities built in the neighbourhood also serve as avenues for building a community that fosters social integration and cultural awareness, all of which are crucial 8
to an incredibly diverse neighbourhood like Regent Park. The revitalization of Regent Park also opened doors for economic activities to arise due to the introduction of commercial land-use in the neighbourhood. According to TCHC, the revitalization has led to the employment of 1,100 people in the community (Toronto Community Housing Corporation, 2016). To illustrate that, Paintbox Bistro, which is a local restaurant built during the revitalization, is operating not only to serve food, but also has a social mission of hiring and training inexperienced local youth and attracting outsiders to a stigmatized community. Improving the status and well-being of tower neighbourhoods will need comprehensive plans similar to the revitalization plan done in Regent Park. Creating these plans is extensive and costly, however, it has been shown that positive results are possible. Every single tower neighbourhood in Toronto might not be able to conduct the extent of the change done in Regent Park, but as long as it is working towards the improvement of the environment, economic status and the social and cultural well-being of its residents, we are working towards a Toronto for all.
Page 1 and 2: TOWER & RENEWAL REGENT Khliden Lamp
Page 3 and 4: O W E R R E N E W A L : T A I N O B
Page 5 and 6: O W E R R E N E W A L : T M P L E M
Page 7: Regent Park was a very good example

Tower Renewal & Regent Park Final

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