Green Phoenix integrated design charrette for sustainable affordable housing
Description
abstract: In 2005, Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Corporation (PLEDC) organized and held a
design charrette for a sustainable, affordable housing project. Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation (CMHC), the City of Toronto's Energy Efficiency Office,
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Sustainable Building Canada (SBC) provided
organizational assistance for the charrette. CMHC, the CIty of Toronto, Enbridge Gas
Distribution and NRCan provided financial assistance. Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada (HRSDC) supported the wages of PLEDC staff who managed logistics for
the charrette. The goal of the charrette was to produce designs to add about 20 new,
green, affordable rental units (known as the "Green Phoenix
Project")to a site that already supports two existing buildings in the west end
of Toronto. The Green Phoenix project has four main goals: a. To provide 20 or more new
affordable apartments to serve low income people; b. To create an environmental
showcase; c. To demonstrate that green building is not an unrealistic luxury ; d. To
incorporate commmunity members and potential tenants in some aspects of the project
construction.
