Tomorrow is a digital multiple exposure photo capturing the journey of a Waterloo home from a vibrant dwelling to a vacant lot primed for redevelopment. Spanning from 2009 to 2023, the layers of this image trace the bungalow’s journey at 86 Hickory Street West in Waterloo, ON, depicting its shift from function to disuse, and ultimately to demolition.

While reflecting on change, it critiques the tension between development and community needs. The idle house, left empty during a housing shortage, could have been repurposed into a valuable rental property. Instead, the developers demolished it, cutting down mature trees in the process and leaving the lot vacant for years while seeking zoning approval. Such short-sighted redevelopment contrasts with European urban planning, which often prioritizes adaptive reuse and green space preservation over demolition and profit. In Canada, particularly in the Waterloo Region, the same respect for natural and artistic elements is conspicuously absent. The destruction of decades-old trees reveals a broader indifference toward environmental sustainability and community well-being.

The situation at 86 Hickory is not isolated; it’s emblematic of a pattern within the region where homes linger uninhabited, slated for eventual demolition without consideration for the interim. Tomorrow is not just a narrative of one house but a reflection on our priorities in urban development and the intricate balance between growth and conservation.