These places now cost quite a lot, but in roughly 1960-90s they were relatively cheap because all the WASPs moved to the suburbs because 'downtown was for immigrants'; this particular neighbourhood was >90% Polish during the time period. Just to the east of this neighbourhood is Little Portugal, and to the west a large Ukraine community used to be concentrated (with a smattering of Lithuanians).
Now that urban living has become fashionable again, it has been gentrified (no more Poles) and the prices are crazy high.
But there's nothing unique about how it was built, and nothing is stopping communities from (e.g.) instituting zoning to mandate higher density (but less than Hong Kong levels):
Pre-WW2 there were large houses, in walkable and transit/cycle-friendly neighbourhoods, where people also now own cars:
* https://www.google.com/maps/place/150+Westminster+Ave,+Toron...
There were also more modest homes in the same are:
* https://www.google.com/maps/place/50+Geoffrey+St,+Toronto,+O...
These places now cost quite a lot, but in roughly 1960-90s they were relatively cheap because all the WASPs moved to the suburbs because 'downtown was for immigrants'; this particular neighbourhood was >90% Polish during the time period. Just to the east of this neighbourhood is Little Portugal, and to the west a large Ukraine community used to be concentrated (with a smattering of Lithuanians).
Now that urban living has become fashionable again, it has been gentrified (no more Poles) and the prices are crazy high.
But there's nothing unique about how it was built, and nothing is stopping communities from (e.g.) instituting zoning to mandate higher density (but less than Hong Kong levels):
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetcar_suburb