Working Toward Spatial Justice Through Planning

This paper explores the development of Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) and Community Benefit Frameworks (CBFs) in Toronto through the examination of four local case studies⎯Rexdale-Casino Woodbine Community Benefit Agreement; Jane⎯Finch Metrolinx Community Hub; Parkdale Community Benefits Framework; and the City of Toronto Community Benefits Framework. CBAs are legally binding agreements between developers and community groups which aim to ensure that local communities can receive benefits from urban development projects. The study sheds light on the role of CBAs in promoting social justice and community empowerment, highlighting their potential significance in marginalized neighborhoods by providing decent work, affordable housing, and spaces for community use. This paper views these case studies through a spatial justice perspective which critically examines the formation, regulation, and the use of urban space with an emphasis on the use-value of space by acknowledging the attachments individuals have to their neighbourhoods. This paper argues that through CBAs⎯which seek greater community inclusion in the planning and development process⎯the alienation and displacement of community members can be resisted against. This study contributes to the emerging discussion of CBAs as a planning tool, in addition to the broader scholarly and planning discussions on urban development and social equity, offering insights for policymakers, community advocates, and urban planners. In addition, this paper makes the case for continued expansion of resources dedicated to CBAs as they can serve as a planning tool which can aid in fostering community resilience, reducing the displacement and alienation of people within their own communities, and promoting more equitable development within cities.