Unplanned Suburbs: Toronto's American Tragedy, 1900 to 1950It is widely believed that only the growth of mass suburbs after World War II brought suburban living within reach of blue-collar workers, immigrants, and racial minorities. But in this original and intensive study of Toronto, Richard Harris shows that even prewar suburbs were socially and ethnically diverse, with a significant number of lower-income North American families making their homes on the urban fringe. In the United States and Canada, lack of planning set the stage for a uniquely North American tragedy. Unplanned Suburbs serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked suburban growth. |
Contents
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Introduction I
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1 |
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The Rise of Metropolitan Suburbs
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21 |
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Did the Factory Lead the Way?
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51 |
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A City of Homes
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86 |
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The End Justified the Means
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109 |
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Civic Efficiency and Suburban Freedom
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141 |
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The Rhetoric and Reality of Community Building
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168 |
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A Romance of Common Life
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200 |
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Common terms and phrases
annexed blue-collar settlement blue-collar suburbs blue-collar workers boom British immigrants building regulations built by-law Canada Canadian cities census Chicago city limits City of Toronto city's construction decade decentralization districts downtown dwellings East York economic employers ethnic Etobicoke factory families financing Forest Hill fringe Globe home ownership households ideal industrial suburb Junction labor land late Leaside living lodgers lodging lots ment metropolitan middle-class Might's Toronto City Mimico Montreal mortgage moved municipal North American cities North Toronto North York occupations Ontario owner building pattern percent Planning property assessment records reformers Report residential Richard Harris sample satellite shack single-family South Earlscourt speculative builders street subdivisions tion Toron Toronto Archives Toronto City Directory Toronto Housing Commission Toronto Transit Commission Toronto's suburbs transit U.S. cities United University of Toronto University Press unplanned Urban History Willys-Overland working-class York Township Zunz