Metroburb Wide
The Metroburb generation were mostly built in the 1980’s to early 2000’s in the suburban neighbourhoods of Etobicoke, Scarborough and North York - as well as surrounding GTA municipalities like Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan.
The Metroburb Wide is characterized by a high lot coverage and attached “snout” garage facing the street and typically sized to accomodate two cars. The plan is usually organized around a central stair in a ‘ninesquare’ grid organization with rooms along the perimeter. The large building size relative to the lot dimensions makes it challenging to propose substantial additions or expansions to the house without exceeding the lot coverage and density regulations (floor space index) for the site.
Existing Total Floor Area = 279.0m2
Lot Area = 435.9m2
Lot Coverage = 41.2%
Existing FSI (Floor Space Index) = 0.64
Sample of Real Estate Listings
Pricing as of June 2022
Neighbourhood Aerial
Existing House Plans
Housing Option: LOW
This scheme is limited to interior renovations within the existing building footprint.
The building is divided into three units, with one large unit on the ground floor and two small units on the second floor. The central stair is fire separated from each unit and serves as shared entrance foyer. The existing laundry room in the basement is retained rather than providing separate laundry in each unit.
Note: The Ontario Building Code allows for buildings up to two storeys with one exit stair, but does not allow two suites on this second storey to exit into a shared single exit corridor/stair, unless a separate exit is also provided. In other words, units on the second floor are only allowed to have a single exit if they do not share this exit with another unit. This ‘Low’ design may require an alternative solutions code-compliance application by working with a code consultant and architect to demonstrate equivalent life safety of the design. Providing an automatic sprinkler system may provide such equivalent performance.
Total Unit Count = 3 Units
Total Occupancy = 7 Beds
Housing Option: MEDIUM
This scheme is limited to minor additions, accessory dwelling units (Garden Suite or Laneway Suite) and renovations within the existing building footprint, and may include the scope of work included in the ‘LOW’ option.
The existing two-car garage is insulated and converted to a studio apartment. The roof of the garage is rebuilt as a flat green roof with a large terrace for the upper unit. A second storey rear deck and exterior stair is also added to provide the required second means of egress for the upper units. The basement is subdivided to provide a one-bedroom basement suite and a large mechanical/storage room The front yard is also partially excavated to provide a sunken courtyard and separate access for the basement suite.
Note: This lot is not deep enough to accomodate a garden suite in the rear yard.
Total Unit Count = 5 Units
Total Occupancy = 9 Beds
Housing Option: HIGH
This scheme is limited to major additions or a combination of minor additions, accessory dwelling units (Garden Suite or Laneway Suite) and renovations within the existing building footprint, and may include the scope of work included in the ‘LOW’ and ‘MEDIUM’ option.
The ‘HIGH’ option for this type will involve a reconfiguration of the floor plan and existing central stair to provide each unit with an independent entrance to resolve the issue of the second egress.
Total Unit Count = X Units (4 + Garden Suite)
Total Occupancy = X Beds
TO BE ADDED IN LATE 2022
PENDING GENERAL BUILDING CODE AND ZONING REVIEW
PENDING GENERAL BUILDING CODE AND ZONING REVIEW
Housing Option: NEW
The “New” Options propose demolition of the existing house and the construction of a new multiplex within the zoning/built form permitted for single-detached houses.
This scheme proposes four stacked townhouses with each unit accessed from separate doors off a sheltered front porch. The plan is an almost identical mirroring along the dividing wall, with two-storey upper units and accessible ground floor units. Similar to the elevation of the original metroburb wide with the prominent garage “snout”, a one-storey front extension adds living space to one of the ground floor units and enables the bathroom and bedroom to be sized for full wheelchair accessibility.
Given the considerable floor area and significant number of bedrooms achievable above grade, this scheme does not include a basement. An insulated slab-on-grade construction is faster to build due to less excavation and limited concrete formwork, and also drastically reduces the upfront (embodied) carbon emissions involved in the construction of the building.
In many cases, the new construction of a multiplex will be less sustainable than a renovation or addition to an existing building. However, a ‘no basement’ design, paired with careful selection of low-carbon insulation and cladding materials (as well as an all-electric mechanical system) can result in a multiplex design with a lower carbon footprint than a comparable renovation or addition.
Total Unit Count = 4 Units
Total Occupancy = 11 Beds
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