record.js

//this controller is not being used because i am on the wrong route. 
import Ember from 'ember';

export default Ember.Controller.extend({
  isEditing: false,
  actions: {
    editRecord() {
      this.set('isEditing', true);
    }
  }
});

type.hbs

{{#each model.records as |record|}}
   <li {{ bind-attr class="isEditing:editing :collection-row"}}>
     {{#if isEditing}}
       <div class="form-group">
         {{input type="text" class="form-control" value="record.title"}}
       </div>
     {{else}}
       <span {{action "editRecord" record}} class="collection-row-title">{{record.title}}</span>
       <div class="collection-row-right">
         <span>Edit</span>
       </div>
     {{/if}}
   </li>
 {{/each}}

I am trying to set the isEditing property on my record model from a template that isn't the record.hbs template. The view I have my records in is in the type template. Therefore, the controller is type.js and setting the isEditing property would effect all records, not just one. How do I make it so my record list uses the record controller so that each item has its own isEditing property? Is the only way to create an outlet and add a new route/template/controller? I would like to avoid changing the url.

Looks like you might want an Item Controller although be aware that this will be phased out in Ember 2.0. Instead you could delegate to a component.

{{#each model.records as |record|}}
   {{record-display record=record}}
 {{/each}}

See this thread for discussion: Good way to do this in Ember 2.0