Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Retrofit cohousing

[Collaborative Housing Society (cohosoc]

Eric Hart's description of his group's intentions seem like a great idea!  I
wish them luck, and wish we could pursue something similar here.

However, we have something called the "Rental Housing Protection Act" in
Ontario, which prevents conversion of existing rental units to individual
ownership, or even co-op ownership, no matter how gradual the take over may
be.

I offer this simply to point out that there may very well be similar laws on
the books in other urban centers, so find out now!  I know of at least two
buildings that left their prospective owners holding an empty bag in spite
of their immensely convoluted attempts to structure the ownership in a
palatable manner.

I should add that the principle of this law is one I agree with, even though
I reget the limits it places on some really interesting community building.
Toronto has not been known for the community mindedness of its development
practices.  Rampant speculation has already caused a lot of damage to the
livability and affordability of housing in the city, without throwing
thousands of units of good rental housing onto the fires of greed.

I will also add that there is increasing room for thoughtful innovations
that were previously squashed under all-encompassing legislation, so, who
knows, perhaps a careful, community and neighbourhood-spirited coalition of
cohousers might get their chance to show what a downtown multi-unit site can
really do!

Russell Mawby
Collaborative Housing Society (CoHoSoc)
Toronto

Grad. Architect.  But don't tell anyone.