Aerial view of Toronto showing low density surrounding urban core The City of Toronto is facing a housing crisis despite building a record number of units every year. The reality is, however, that most of the units built are condo units designed for individual purchase. A good portion of these … [Read more...]
Province continues to mandate Toronto to increase density near major transit hubs.
The latest Provincial Policy Statement, which governs land use planning throughout Ontario, came out in the beginning of April 2023. The statement, unfortunately, eases many restrictions to develop ‘greenfields’ passed by the Liberals in 2017. It also waters down the density requirements of the … [Read more...]
Zoning changes in Toronto will allow multi-family properties in single-family home areas.
Filling in the 'Missing Middle'. How Toronto plans to increase density in ways besides building huge condo towers. Toronto's population continues to grow at one of the highest paces in North America. Most people would be surprised to learn that many neighborhoods in Toronto are actually losing … [Read more...]
Toronto’s Modular Housing Initiative – A Rapid Response to the Need for Affordable Housing
The City of Toronto is moving forward on its plan to increase the supply of affordable housing across the city. As part of the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, the City committed to create 1,000 new modular homes in Toronto. The Modular Housing Initiative is an innovative and cost-effective way to … [Read more...]
Transit-Oriented Communities: Why We Need Them And How We Can Make Them Happen.
Matti Siemiatycki and Drew Fagan from the University of Toronto wrote an interesting white paper on development near major transit hubs in Ontarion. Here is an excerpt: The provincial Places to Grow regional growth plan and Metrolinx’s Big Move that date back about 15 years both … [Read more...]
Landlord Tenant Board during Covid
The Government of Ontario has passed legislation to freeze rent at 2020 levels. This means that rents will not increase in 2021 for the vast majority of rented units covered under the Residential Tenancies Act. The permitted rent increase for 2022 has been set at 1.2%. … [Read more...]
Toronto to deem nearly 1,000 buildings as heritage
The City of Toronto's Preservation Board recently passed legislation that lists almost a 1,000 properties located on major streets in the centrral regions of the city as historical. As the Globe and Mail's Alex Bozikovic points out, "this broad-brush move...is the most dramatic change to … [Read more...]
New Condo Investors in Toronto Face Growing Risk that Rent Won’t Cover Expenses
This is an interesting article on the carrying costs of residential condominiums. The underlying message is that carrying costs including realty taxes, maintenance fees and debt service are now higher for investors as property value and interest rate increases are rising faster than rental … [Read more...]
King Street Pilot Data Seemingly Contradicts Complaints From Business Owners
Toronto officials say data from debit- and credit-card machines show total consumer spending inside the city's King streetcar-priority zone is in line with the rest of the city – even though some King Street restaurateurs complain the pilot project is killing their … [Read more...]
Evaluating Creditworthiness
In the many strip malls nationwide, owners might deal with one supermarket or big box store - a rated tenant - and dozens of smaller businesses that are non-rated tenants. Although nonrated tenants such as restaurants, nail salons, boutiques, and office tenants may be creditworthy, no … [Read more...]
