Building Boom

The annexation period prompted a building boom as real estate developers and other speculators scrambled to fill in vacant lots within recently annexed areas. A significant feature of this building boom was the adoption of the semi-detached housing template as a popular and affordable option, both for builders and for buyers.

At the same time, there was a concerted effort by the City to quickly service annexed areas, building schools, police stations, fire halls, civic streetcar lines, and other public amenities. One by-product of the construction of the civic car-lines were the long rows of commercial structures with apartments above that sprung up along their routes.