Kensington Market Community Land Trust
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Mission Statement
The Kensington Market Community Land Trust is incorporated to acquire and provide for the management of land, in perpetuity, in or near Toronto’s Kensington Market. Our mission statement is to remove property from the pressure of the commercial real estate market, with the overarching goal of land use for local community benefit, including but not limited to, the provision of affordable housing; the maintenance of the historical built form and eclectic mixed-use nature; the equitable economic development of small businesses in our community, especially those of BIPOC businesses; and the continued presence of different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds populating the area.
About This Cause
We are a community-focused organization that also has a national voice in advocacy. In our neighbourhood of Kensington Market, we own and directly operate a mixed-use building with 12 residential units. We acquired this building in 2021 after a lengthy battle between the tenants and the prior landlord over an illegal eviction. Today, all 12 residential units remain occupied, with the average rent being 80% of the Average Market Rent (as set by CMHC). The building has a diverse mix of residents, with tenants ranging in age, sexual orientation, and ethnicity (there is one tenant who has lived in the building for almost 50 years now!). We also manage 5 commercial units in our building, which are majority BIPOC businesses. We are currently exploring the option of adding modular affordable housing in the rear parking lot of our building and are in the process of seeking to acquire more properties in or near Kensington Market to expand our work. Outside of our community, we are a founding member of the Canadian Network of Canadian Land Trusts, which is a national organization with now 41 Community Land Trusts. We are also a founding community partner of FairBNB Canada, which is a social enterprise platform alternative to Airbnb. We are also a research partner with the University of Toronto’s School of Cities, having recently signed on to a 7-year SSHRC research project on affordable housing solutions across Canada. Help us make some grassroots change today!!