Riverdale Hub Green Expansion

This is a story of a successfully performed green renovation in Toronto’s Riverdale neighborhood that should serve as an example to all builders and communities around the world.

Riverdale sprung up as a small rural community of Ontario’s early settlers. Back then, it was called Riverside. But after it was annexed to the City of Toronto in 1884, it started growing rapidly. Today, Riverdale is a popular neighborhood for young families with children and those who like to lead a relaxed life close to downtown.

A Beautiful Home in Riverdale

Best of all, Riverdale and the surrounding neighborhoods abound with multicultural communities and talented individuals. Along Gerrard Street, one can find a variety of east-Asian and south-Asian restaurants and shops often run by first- or second-generation immigrants. And in the midst of it all is Riverdale Hub, the unofficial headquarters of Gerrard Street’s multiculturalism.

Riverdale Hub is a place where new immigrants can find help and work, and where visitors can find information and great food. In addition, there is a warehouse and commercial premises and offices for rent. All of this is located in the Hub’s 100-year-old brick building. And this is where the green story begins…

As the original building aged, it grew more and more obsolete and reconstruction became more and more necessary. Thanks to generous sponsors and wise fund management, Riverdale Hub was able to begin a major overhaul of the building, including an expansion and thorough modernization. Not only did the Hub modernize, but the engineers maintained strong focus on environmental issues and the new building’s sustainability. Therefore, the new Riverdale Hub is extremely eco-friendly. (If you like green buildings, read our recent article about the Top 5 eco-friendly universities in the US.)

Riverdale Hub drains all of its rainwater into semi-flooded gardens that retain this moisture and re-release it into the environment. Not only does this create a better atmosphere within the Hub, but it also prevents excessive droughts that arise as a result of speedy rainwater drainage in cities. (You can read more about the concept of capturing rain water to fight global warming here.)

In addition to the rainwater gardens, Riverdale Hub decided to make use of geo-thermal heating during the colder days. Then they installed large windows to make the interior more comfortable for people and help them cut back on artificial lighting. Most of the materials used during the reconstruction were of natural origin and can be recycled or disposed of safely in the future. The original bricks remained exposed rather than receiving a color coat. This is partly a design decision and partly an environmental decision that saved money and liters of coating materials from being applied.

If only more reconstruction projects paid more attention to green options and practices, we could truly make a huge impact together. Work with a like-minded Realtor® to find the home of your dreams. Work with Toronto green Realtor® Julie Kinnear and her team to find the perfect home in Toronto for you and your family.

Article brought to you by Julie Kinnear.