St. Joseph’s Square Regeneration Project

1994

Joseph Passa Architect acquired this project through an architectural competition while a partner with R. Meo & Associates prior to establishing Passa Architects. This project was one of three urban housing Ontario Pilot Programs with the focus on developing methods to raise the quality of life within the social housing where the environment was thought to be partially responsible for family difficulties. Renovations were then made to an existing flat roofed 92 unit townhouse development providing public front porches, kitchens, private rear yards, new sloped roofs and play areas throughout for the existing 325 children. Police view corridors and access areas for services were also evolved through the removal of a number of existing neglected and boarded up units. A general effort to create public spaces based upon residents comments and requests lead to a successful redevelopment. The ultimate objective of the project was to foster pride of place and engender the consideration and stewardship of the renewed neighborhood by its residents.