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The changing place of condominiums across a metropolitan area, 1970–2015
Author(s) -
Harris Richard,
Rose Geoff
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the canadian geographer / le géographe canadien
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.35
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1541-0064
pISSN - 0008-3658
DOI - 10.1111/cag.12577
Subject(s) - downtown , metropolitan area , newspaper , geography , value (mathematics) , renting , regional science , economic geography , political science , sociology , media studies , archaeology , law , machine learning , computer science
By definition, all condominiums share social features and challenges of governance, but they have inspired two separate narratives: as suburban, often gated, communities and as downtown high‐rises or conversions. In Canada, as elsewhere, research has focused on large urban areas, neglecting subtly different dynamics in smaller centres. The purpose of this case study of mid‐sized Hamilton, Ontario, was to assess whether and how those dynamics are different across a whole metro area, using newspapers and building permit data. It tracks the changing place of condo developments and conversions across Hamilton since 1970. For decades, most developments were suburban town (row) houses; since 2000, downtown revival has included conversions and taller, new‐build projects. It argues that early developments and conversions reflected a “value gap” in relation to purpose‐built rental apartments. Led by a migrant arts community, recent centralization has exploited an inner‐city “rent gap,” coupled with a popular reassessment of urban living .