CITY OF APARTMENTS

New “Shelter” documentary shines a spotlight on Toronto’s legacy of immigrant builders

BY JESSICA GREEN, DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIPS GREENWIN INC

Who built Toronto? According to Ron Chapman’s documentary, “Shelter”, there’s only one answer to that question: immigrants. Between 1952 and 1975, over 500,000 rental apartment units were built by Jewish immigrants. These buildings were constructed to create community, safety, and shelter for those coming to the city to start a new life.

The documentary features interviews with some of the most successful and prolific developers in Toronto history: the Tenenbaums, the Diamonds, the Greens, the Browns, and many more. These are names that might not be familiar to all Torontonians, but they undoubtedly created the core infrastructure that made Toronto into the city it is today.

CITY OF FIELDS TO CITY OF APARTMENTS

Toronto was the city that many immigrants from Europe came to before, during, and after World War II. What they found when they arrived was a city still in its infancy—one that wasn’t always hospitable to immigrants, particularly those who were Jewish or Catholic. They also found that there were not many places to live.

In fact, back then Toronto was not much more than a small city surrounded by fields and farms. With 100,000 immigrants pouring into the city, housing was in critical need. As many of these new Canadians arrived virtually penniless, affordable housing was even more needed. Purchasing a car was out of reach for many, let alone a home or land.

“They were broke, not poor,” clarifies Cary Green, Chairman of Greenwin, in the documentary. “They were committed Canadians. They knew what freedom meant.”

They also knew that they needed to take care of each other. The spirit of community and love of neighbour was strong, with many sharing food, clothing, and anything else they could. But this commitment also developed in another way: several entrepreneurial-minded families decided to get involved in building the very shelter that so many people needed, effectively creating Toronto as we know it today from the ground up.

LEARNING WHILE YOU GO

Developing and building rental apartments was certainly not easy. From learning how to work with the city and navigating complicated zoning and building permit processes, there was also determining where to buy, where to build, when and how to sell. For many Jewish immigrants who arrived with goals of continuing to work in engineering fields, they found it impossible to deal with the anti-

Reduce Heating COSTS

and improve your tenants’ comfort

If your building was built before 1980 and it is heated with hot water baseboard convectors or radiators, your building is losing a significant amount of heat through the exterior walls. The installation of NovithermTM Heat is a simple and effective way of reducing those energy losses while enhancing your comfort. Your return on investment by installing NovithermTM is only 2 – 5 years. Typically savings are 10% or higher.

NO REFLECTOR WITH REFLECTOR

Exterior wall

Exterior wall

NovithermTM Heat Reflector

Hotter Air and Increased Velocity

HEAT LOSS Enhanced Heat Recuperation Increased Air Circulation

Floor

REDUCED HEAT LOSS

Floor

Tenant Comfort + Energy Savings + Greenhouse Gas Reduction = NovithermTM Heat Reflectors

For a free proposal and to start saving now call

1-866-382-5505

or visit or web site

www.novitherm.com NOVITHERMTM

DEALS WERE MADE OVER EGGS AND ONIONS AT STUBBY’S SMOKESHOP ON BATHURST. ON ANY GIVEN MORNING, YOU COULD WALK IN AND BUMP INTO A BUILDER OR THE MAYOR.”

Semitism they faced while trying to get a foothold in those positions. So, they turned to fixing and building, repairing things like walls and chimneys and getting paid in livestock— rarely ever in money.

But as the years went by, they would work together and support each other, regardless of what development company they worked for or what family they were from. Often, this manifested in Saturday morning meetups between many of the Jewish developers in Toronto at a local coffee shop, Shopsy’s, where they would make deals, trade tips, and learn how to build the city together. They created their own little family.

For the film’s Executive Producer Mark Kenney, being able to share these untold stories has been a passion project years in the making. As the President & Chief Executive Officer of CAPREIT, former Senior Property Manager at Greenwin, and a self-described “fiercely proud Canadian”, he knows the hard work and determination it took to make Toronto into the welcoming place it is today.

“Deals were made over eggs and onions at Stubby’s smokeshop on Bathurst. On any given morning, you could walk in and bump into a builder or the mayor. These moments built the foundation for what Toronto is today. With this film, we have been able to preserve and celebrate the stories—and buildings— that came out of landmarks like Stubby’s,” says Kenney. “We now have permanent documentation of the contributions that these iconic characters have made to our city.”

ONE-OF-A-KIND TORONTO

Rental housing is what makes Toronto unique. In fact, it has more older apartment buildings than any other city in North America. But what makes these buildings really stand out? Their quality. They were built with the idea that they needed to look good, so the community looked good too. They were built with the idea that if you used quality materials, you would reduce the cost of maintenance over time. Mainly, though, they were built this way because people deserve to live a quality life.

If you want to have a healthy city, you need to build. Toronto continues to grow, welcoming immigrants from around the world, because it is a place where they can belong. As we continue to open our arms to them, we need to not lose sight of the fact they need a place to live and call their own once they arrive. Toronto is uniquely positioned to give people the space they need to build their lives, thanks to the dedicated builders and developers that immigrated here over 60 years ago.

ARE YOU CONTEMPLATING THE SALE OF YOUR APARTMENT PORTFOLIO/PROPERTY?

Consider the following: • Who will represent your best interest? • Who will give your property maximum exposure? • Who will deliver the highest value for your property? With over 30 years of experience, tens of thousands of units sold, and hundreds of clients represented, we have consistently delivered superior results. Through our local and national coverage, we create maximum exposure, ensuring maximum value for your property.

CBRE Limited, Real Estate Brokerage National Apartment Group – Toronto

DAVID MONTRESSOR* Executive Vice President (416) 815-2332 david.montressor@cbre.com

* PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

Over $6.9B Sales Volume Over 54,000 Suites Sold 30 Years of Experience

$391,000,000 QuadReal Portfolio - 8 Properties Halifax, NS 1,503 Suites - $260,146 Per Suite $78,500,000 301 Dixon Road Toronto, ON 225 Units - $348,889 Per Suite $64,000,000 2801 Jane Street Toronto, ON 234 Suites - $273,504 Per Suite $9,650,000 1911 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON 22 Suites - $438,636 Per Suite

This disclaimer shall apply to CBRE Limited, Real Estate Brokerage, and to all other divisions of the Corporation (“CBRE”). The information set out herein, including, without limitation, any projections, images, opinions, assumptions and estimates obtained from third parties (the “Information”) has not been verified by CBRE, and CBRE does not represent, warrant or guarantee the accuracy, correctness and completeness of the Information. CBRE does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability, direct or consequential, for the Information or the recipient’s reliance upon the Information. The recipient of the Information should take such steps as the recipient may deem necessary to verify the Information prior to placing any reliance upon the Information. The Information may change and any property described in the Information may be withdrawn from the market at any time without notice or obligation to the recipient from CBRE. CBRE and the CBRE logo are the service marks of CBRE Limited and/or its affiliated or related companies in other countries. All other marks displayed on this document are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.