Blog Posts

Laneway Housing

8/25/2018

On June 28, 2018, City Council adopted the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments permitting laneway suites in R zones under Zoning By-law 569-2013 in the Toronto and East York District. This policy, called “Changing Lanes,” sets out clear rules that allow such homes to be built.

A laneway suite is a self-contained residential unit built into pre-existing lots (on top of garages or parking pads) and generally located in the backyard opening onto a laneway. They are legally connected to the houses in front of them and use their infrastructure for water and electricity. Laneway suites provide new affordable rental housing opportunities within established neighbourhoods, providing a wider range of low-density housing options while preserving community character.

The new policy comes with a variety of restrictions on their size and configuration. Click here to access the City of Toronto Zoning By-Law regarding Laneway Housing and here to access the City Planning Presentation.

Caricari Lee Architects recently completed an ambitious laneway project and renovation of an existing home at 259 Dovercourt. Located in the Trinity Bellwoods area, this urban infill project added three residences to an existing semi-detached residential flag lot with a parcel at the rear laneway. The project consists of a front, four-bedroom, semi-detached family-residence on Dovercourt Road as well as three Skey Lane homes. Each property has its own private garage. Special attention was paid to the sensitive integration of new residences into the urban fabric of the existing area.

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Heritage Walking Tour - June 6, 2018

6/7/2018

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We had a great turnout, perfect weather and an engaging tour guide on our Heritage Walking Tour. Not easy to do on King Street during rush hour. These are some of the highlights.

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Diamond Schmitt Architects Named One of Canada's Top Employers

5/7/2018

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SDA member firm Diamond Schmitt Architects has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top Small and Medium Employers, for the fifth year in a row.

Read the full article from Construction Canada News here.

Congratulations from everyone at the SDA!

Photo courtesy Diamond Schmitt Architects

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Spring 2018 Social

4/23/2018

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The Spring Social was held at the landmark office tower at 134 Peter Street, catered by Ricarda's. Here are some of the highlights.

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Frank Lloyd Wright: The Lost Works - Larkin Administration Building Video

3/16/2018

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As a prelude to our upcoming Heritage Walking Tour in June, this fascinating digital animation reconstructed from Wright's original plans and drawings by Razin Kahn, along with archival photographs of the Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York is a tribute to one of Wright's great masterpieces.

It was designed in 1903 by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1904-1906 for the Larkin Soap Company of Buffalo, New York. The five story dark red brick building used pink tinted mortar and utilized steel frame construction. It was noted for many innovations, including air conditioning, built-in desk furniture, and suspended toilet partitions and bowls. Though this was an office building, it still caught the essence of Frank Lloyd Wright's type of architecture. Sculptor Richard Bock provided ornamentation for the building.

Click here to watch the video.

Located at 680 Seneca Street, the Larkin
Building was demolished in 1950.

This is all that remains.

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Did you know...

2/15/2018

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...about the new rules governing your workplace, otherwise known as Bill 148? This CFIB article summarizes the changes to help you understand how Bill 148 affects your workplace. The Government of Ontario web page outlining Bill 148 can be found here. For more information contact the Government of Ontario at 416.326.7160.