Breathing Life Back Into Forgotten Spaces

Real stories from the streets we've helped transform - not just pretty renderings, but actual neighborhoods where people live, work, and thrive again.

Look, we've been doing this for years now, and honestly? The before photos still get to us. Empty factories, boarded-up storefronts, contaminated lots that kids can't play on. But here's what keeps us going - watching these places come alive again. We're not gonna pretend every project's perfect, but we've learned a thing or two about what actually works when you're trying to fix up neglected urban areas.

The Junction Textile Mill Project

Toronto West End | Completed 2023

Before renovation
BEFORE

Sat empty for 18 years. Roof was leaking, windows smashed, squatters had moved in twice. The neighborhood association basically gave up on it.

After renovation
AFTER

42 affordable housing units upstairs, artisan market on the ground floor, community kitchen in the basement. We kept the original brick and those massive timber beams.

87%

Local hiring during construction

24

New small businesses opened

3.2M

Kg CO2 saved annually

100%

Units occupied within 6 months

"We didn't think anyone cared about this building anymore. My grandmother used to work here back in the 60s, and now my daughter lives in one of the apartments. It's kinda surreal, honestly."

- Maria T., Junction resident since 1989

Riverdale Industrial Commons

East Toronto | Completed 2022

Brownfield before
BEFORE

The Dirty Truth

This was a proper mess. Old auto parts manufacturing site, contaminated soil, asbestos everywhere. The city had it fenced off for 12 years 'cause nobody wanted to touch it with all the environmental cleanup needed.

We spent 14 months just on remediation before we could even think about designing anything. Not glamorous work, but absolutely necessary if you're gonna do urban renewal right.

  • 4,200 tonnes of contaminated soil removed
  • Complete groundwater remediation
  • Asbestos abatement across 3 structures
  • Indigenous land acknowledgment & consultation
Community space after
AFTER

What's There Now

We turned it into a community industrial hub - basically a place where local makers, artists, and small manufacturers can actually afford workspace in Toronto (yeah, we were surprised too).

Ground Floor
  • Shared woodworking shop
  • Metal fabrication area
  • Textile studio with industrial machines
  • Loading dock & storage
Upper Levels
  • 28 affordable studio spaces
  • Shared photography studio
  • Meeting rooms & gallery
  • Rooftop garden (yeah, really)

Real talk: The rents here are about 40% below market rate. We managed that through a mix of city grants, green building incentives, and keeping some of the existing structure instead of demolishing everything. Not every project can pull this off, but when it works, it really works.

67

Permanent jobs created in first year

LEED Gold

Certified despite brownfield challenges

$8.2M

Added annual economic activity to neighborhood

St. Clair Heritage Block

Midtown Toronto | Completed 2021

Heritage building before

BEFORE: Crumbling facade, 1920s

During restoration

DURING: Painstaking restoration work

Restored building

AFTER: Protected heritage designation

This one was tricky. Three connected buildings from different eras, all designated heritage properties, all falling apart. The heritage committee was watching our every move (and we're glad they were, honestly).

What We Saved

  • Original terracotta detailing
  • Hand-carved limestone entry
  • Pressed tin ceilings (3rd floor)
  • Oak staircase & railings
  • Century-old hardwood floors
  • Stained glass windows (restored)
  • Original brick interior walls
  • Cast iron radiators (functional!)

We added modern stuff where it made sense - HVAC that doesn't destroy sightlines, triple-pane windows behind the original frames, LED lighting that looks like the old fixtures. Ground floor's now a cafe & bookstore, upper floors are office space for nonprofits at reduced rates.

Lesson learned: Heritage restoration takes twice as long as you think it will. We budgeted 18 months, it took 31. But rushing it would've meant losing details we can never get back. Sometimes slow's the only way to go.

Our Approach to Urban Renewal

After years of doing this, we've figured out what actually matters (and what's just noise)

Community First

We talk to people who actually live there. Lots. Sometimes they're annoyed with us, but their input always makes projects better.

Reuse What's There

Demo's expensive and wasteful. We keep existing structures when possible - better for the planet, better for the budget.

Long-Term Thinking

What'll this place look like in 20 years? 50? We design for the long haul, not just Instagram shots at ribbon cutting.

Affordability Matters

Renewal shouldn't mean displacement. We work hard to keep spaces accessible to existing residents and local businesses.

By the Numbers

Aggregate impact from our urban renewal projects across the GTA

17

Buildings saved from demolition

342

Affordable housing units created

89

Local businesses accommodated

6.8ha

Brownfield land remediated

1,240

Construction jobs (local hire)

12.4M

Kg CO2 prevented annually

Got a Site That Needs Some Love?

We're always interested in new challenges - the messier the better, honestly. Old factories, contaminated sites, heritage buildings that everyone's given up on... that's our jam.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Or call us at (416) 555-0147 - we actually answer the phone