Residents at BRARAR HILL-BELGRAVIA came together in 2024 to create a Little Jamaica Community Bhumi Trust-to protect the black-lower land of Toronto to protect the Trust-Neighborhood and Culture from gentryphification.
Rich in Ephro-Caribbean culture, Little Jamaica on Aglinton Avenue West has been home to hundreds of local black-owned businesses since 1958 since 1958.
But since the summer of 2011, the construction of Aglinton LRT has inspired more than 140 black -owned businesses, with some decades around. While supporters say that the new line improves, critics argue that construction may lead to gentryification.
Masani Monteg, who owns the Community Hub Studio M on 1672 Aglinton Avenue. “I mean, let’s be real: no customers. So, no customer, you cannot pay the rent. You cannot pay the rent, the landlord closed the door on you. You went out, right?”
with Exit of Eglinton LRT in SeptemberBiyar Hill-Belgravia saw an increase in buying properties in developers. Therefore, the residents worked with the coun of Toronto-Sent.Pol. To push the passion Inclusive zoningFor which developers need to include affordable housing units with new development.
They also picked up motion This enables black -owned businesses to have the first right to refuse to retail locations near LRT stations.
“Laws by the provincial government, either commercial or residential, do not ensure either commercial or residential, so we are becoming creative as a community because if there is a developer who works in good faith with us, we will accelerate the process,” they explain.
“If [developers are] If not ready to work with the community, then we are not going to work with them. ,
In 2018, residents formed Black Urbanism Toronto (Booto), which gives local people the right to participate in community development. One of the non-profit goals is to live in your neighborhood through shared ownership for black people. So, Buto launched Little Jamaica Community Land Trust A year ago.
The Little Jamaican Community Land Trust coordinator No Khika Mark says that the Land Trust is involved in nature, but insists that a Black-LED Land Trust focuses on members of the black community.
“We are really ready to give priority to black people – that they are leaders, that they are the board of directors, that they are voting membership,” she explains. “They are really decision -making people in their neighborhood, their community and also for their people.”
On July 22, the Land Trust will hold its first interim board meeting to find local properties to buy. Meanwhile, it is hosting Walking tour To bring more legs into traffic, and to preserve the cultural heritage of Little Jamaica.