Regent Park Redux ─ Reinventing Public Housing in Canada

We Call This Place Home evaluates one of the biggest experiments in public housing redevelopment from the perspective of its tenants. As cities across the world struggle with the legacy of "urban renewal" housing projects, Toronto has attempted to redevelop one of its largest projects, Regent Park, with new input from its residents, and a full commitment to their resettlement. Johnson examines the international context, as well as the prospects for Regent Park in comparison to other public housing redevelopment projects internationally. She also collects the stories, through interviews, of 50 households who are undergoing the 15 year redevelopment process.We Call This Place Home examines the dreams and hopes that the residents of public housing have for their community and their future.

Laura C. Johnson is Professor of Planning at University of Waterloo. She has authored three books—on child care, industrial homework, and teleworking—as well as numerous articles on related topics. She received the American Planning Association’s 2004 National Women in Planning Award in honour of Diana Donald.

Robert E. Johnson is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Toronto and Senior Journalism Fellow of Massey College. His main research focus has been Russian and Soviet History, including a recent study of living space in Russian cities. He collaborated with Laura Johnson on The Seam Allowance (1983).