Artscape, Toronto's glory story (in any of the following categories: arts & culture, social entrepreneurship and city revitalization) is pushing back the gentrification train by making accessible some of the most unique (read: historic) buildings in the city's core.  

The hypothesis and governing organizational philosophy being: Cities need art and artists need cities.  This is their recipe for vibrancy, and it works.  When visiting Toronto, among the must-sees are some of Artscape's buildings, like Wychwood Barns: a defunct streetcar barn converted into a mixed-use community gem that includes a food program, farmers market and subsidized housing for artists.

I lived across from and quietly admired an Artscape building for three years before knowing it was an Artscape building.  This is how well they've integrated.  These beacons not only keep artists in the core of the city and in their communities, but they also keep the integrity of some of our most cherished historical buildings, ones that might otherwise by razed for condos.

Mixed use art hubs: an example of vibrancy in my city.