Curbing Urban Loneliness

Examining the Invisible Epidemic Through the Lens of Permissive Spaces

When considering lifestyle choices that affect longevity, researchers often cite habits like smoking or health markers like obesity as key to the degradation of lifespan. Less commonly considered but quantifiably as significant as these traditionally acknowledged metrics is loneliness. In fact, research has shown that chronic loneliness can affect individuals in much the same way as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.

While the pandemic certainly exacerbated the loneliness crisis worldwide, the concept of increasingly isolated living existed long before 2020. In the last 35 years, the number of Canadians living by themselves has nearly doubled, reflecting a staggering 29.3% of all households countrywide as of 2022. And this is not only among our ageing population. Steady increases in solo living have also occurred in Generation Z, Millennial, and Generation X populations.

The loneliness epidemic is a complex issue that affects various aspects of our lives. Recognizing the impact of housing forms on sense of belonging, our team at Townline is eager to create opportunities to foster connection in the communities we build. Whether it’s permissive, welcoming amenity spaces, or exploring alternative housing models, we’re committed to iterate on these new ideas in the years to come,  in an effort to make positive change for our tenants and owners.

Enabling Community to Help Eliminate Isolation

While  high-rise residential communities have much to offer, the traditional approach to these spaces leaves little room for community building and combatting isolationist living. Research shows that high-rise residents tend to have more difficulty forming bonds with neighbours than their single-family detached counterparts. Brief glances in stairwells or smiles exchanged at the mailbox, while kind, do not necessarily cultivate belonging. So what is to be done to continue creating sought-after multi-family living opportunities while enhancing the quality of life of their residents?

We aim to harness the square footage potential of vertical living to create permissive spaces that allow for greater connection in the day-to-day. In our traditional rental buildings, we provide ample public and communal space for our residents to enjoy. Through amenities like shared kitchens, residents can gather for weekly meals or recipe exchanges. Onsite gyms allow for resident-run yoga classes or circuit training. Rooftop patios and community barbeques bring people together to socialize after the work day is through.  We hope that these types of spaces offer opportunities to share experiences, a greater ability to enjoy niche interests, and a larger focus on intentional community building.

As we continue to learn how best to combat loneliness, we are looking for ways to infuse more intentional design into our developments. Exploring the psychology of inclusion has led us to consider the impact of small details, like how lighting levels and laneway widths can transform communal utility areas into social corridors. Curated corners for shared activities or strategically placed benches arranged at angles can encourage conversation during brief moments of social interaction.

While space planning is a key pillar in encouraging engagement at home, the cultivated feeling of belonging is necessary for a space like this to thrive. According to author Andy Field, social barriers that prevent daily interactions can be easily abated with the advent of a shared activity. With areas like hobby rooms and business centres, more opportunities to share an experience and break down social barriers are everywhere. In a post-pandemic world where remote work has blocked out the daily opportunities for water cooler discussions and check-ins with colleagues, we feel the value of these types of spaces is immeasurable, and endeavour to infuse as many of our rentals with these as possible.

Reconsidering the Built Environment

We feel that permissive spaces are but one piece of the urban loneliness puzzle. Shifting the way we approach the built environment may be further bolstered by the integration of intentional community-building efforts by residents and building developers. This thought led us to a concept called co-living, and it’s one that we’re excited to pursue in Victoria, BC.

Marrying aspects of condo-style living with communal spaces and shared social opportunities, co-living centres around the idea that one can maintain one’s privacy with dedicated living quarters while fostering community in shared common areas like kitchens and thoughtfully-designed amenity spaces. The leasing model for co-living is based on an individual’s room rate and not on the shared spaces. Typically, co-lives include a resident manager who assists with scheduling social events, introducing residents, facilitating cleaning rotations and ensuring a peaceful environment for all residents.

Where co-living differs from condo buildings with shared amenities is in the intention and reduced square footage. Residents typically have smaller private living quarters but greater communal spaces. They are also expected to be active participants in building activities.

Along with the inherent social benefits of co-living, these living arrangements appeal to those seeking to live with a smaller environmental footprint, greater affordability and flexible lifestyle opportunities. Fringe benefits can include sharing meals, carpooling, and exploring new cultures and worldviews.

Introducing Victoria’s First Co-Live Project

As we continue to pursue efforts to cultivate belonging in residential spaces, we are proud to introduce Victoria, BC’s very first co-live project, coming soon to the corner of Pandora and Vancouver Street.

Pandora Co-Live will feature 121 rental suites, including 54 co-living suites, each with three to five bedrooms and a communal kitchen. The co-living suites will benefit from fully furnished rooms with wi-fi, utilities, kitchenware, toiletries, and cleaning of common areas included. These inclusions will be paired with curated tenant events and premium amenities like a fitness centre, co-working business centre, music room, workshop/hobby room, bike wash station, dog wash station, outdoor dining areas, and a fireside lounge with a BBQ pit.

Leases will offer the flexibility to adjust to life’s many changes and lower-than-typical market rental rates, Pandora Co-Live will welcome individuals from all walks of life who are looking for a deeper sense of belonging in the space that they call home. To foster the vital intentionality of community building, a lifestyle curator will be employed to encourage socialization through building events.

Pioneering the concept of co-living in the City of Victoria is a passion project of ours, and we’re incredibly proud to offer it to the community. As we embark on this new venture, we are paying close attention to the impact of this type of development, and hope that should we see positive change, colleagues in the development space may consider rolling this model out in their communities as well.

Building Towards a Connected Future

Always looking to learn and improve, our team at Townline is eager to embrace alternative housing models to support the widest array of residents in the cities we serve. To date, our team at TL Housing Solutions has partnered on innovative projects in cities across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island including a community for people with developmental disabilities, an affordable rental project for women and children affected by violence, and below-market rental homes. We have identified what we believe to be significant market gaps and partnered with passionate not-for-profit organizations, legions, churches, Indigenous communities and healthcare providers to create innovative housing solutions that endeavour to help those who live within.

Our philosophy is built on a foundation of continuous learning and improvement. We continue to explore alternative housing options, searching for new ways to diversify the types of homes we can provide for those in need. As we delve deeper into combatting the urban loneliness crisis, our team is open to partnering with charities and support organizations to explore opportunities like co-ops, cohousing, almshouses, courtyard housing, ecovillages and more. We cannot predict the outcomes of these spaces with certainty, but we are passionate about pursuing models that may lead to more inclusive homes for our residents, and we’ll continue to iterate on these to promote positive change.

As we embark on our newest venture to curb the urban loneliness crisis, we continue to strive for the highest-quality construction, client care, and stewardship of the communities in which we build. By creating more socially conducive spaces bolstered by engaged residents, we look forward to a future where communities thrive and individuals can make the most of their lives.