Strengthening Community Land Trust Research
Improving resources for expanding CLTs in Canada
This project aims to better understand the structural role of Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in the Canadian housing landscape: how can they respond to gentrification? How are they impacted by municipal policy? Should there be legal definitions and bounds for what a CLT is?
Jump to Research OutputsWhat role can CLTs play in your community?
These interdisciplinary studies seeks to strengthen CLT research across Canada. With a focus on key issues identified by the CLT sector, the research will contribute to furthering discussion about the role of CLTs in protecting affordability and creating inclusive communities.
Project Lead(s):
Home Organization:
University of British Columbia
Other Participants:
Community Partner:
Aboriginal Housing Management Association, BC Non-Profit Housing Association, BC Society of Transition Houses, Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts, Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre
Funding Stream:
Community-Focused Project
Project Status:
Ongoing
Background
Research Question 1: What role do CLTs play in the response to gentrification?
Susannah Bunce (UofT) and PhD student Emma Ezvan are working on a paper that explores the role that CLTs play in response to gentrification with a focus on the City of Toronto.
Research Question 2: What are the implications of potential policy and zoning changes in Vancouver to CLT efforts to preserve low-income housing?
Dr. Kuni Kamizaki (UBC) is working in partnership with the Downtown Eastside (DTES) CLT to understand how policy changes led by Vancouver City Council will impact the preservation and replacement of single room occupancy (SRO) housing. SRO housing is the primary source of low-income housing in the DTES and the DTES CLT has been working to preserve SROs that are in moderately good condition and well managed. These buildings are susceptible to conversion and gentrification-by-upscaling. Vancouver City Council is currently exploring options that would remove some of the policies and zoning in the DTES Oppenheimer District that have protected this area from new condominium (re)development, curb property speculation and limit displacement by gentrification. This research explores the implications of the proposed changes.
Research Question 3: Is a Canadian legal definition for CLTs needed?
Dr. Alexandra Flynn (UBC): CLTs in Canada have a wide variety of financial and organizational structures, and governance models. Law student, Meagan Auger (UBC) worked with CNCLT to review Canadian and International law with a focus on how the law applies to CLTs. The resulting report is part of the CLT Report Series that was presented at CNCLTs Summit in October 2024. This work also includes a toolbox of common questions that CLTs have that we will work to publish in the new year.
Research Outputs
Existing reports, presentation materials, podcasts, webinar recordings and research summaries.
CLT Definitions
Report
This paper examines the legal definitions of CLTs worldwide to inform the possible development of a legal definition for CLTs in Canada and how a legal definition might impact their work at the community level. Written by Meagan Auger, J.D. from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC.
Learn more
Alert the presses!
This project hasn’t hit the news yet.