Lender disclosure refers to the legal obligation of a lender to provide transparent information about the terms, costs, and conditions of a mortgage or loan agreement.
Why Does Lender Disclosure Matter in Real Estate?
In Canadian real estate, lender disclosure protects borrowers from hidden fees, interest rate changes, and unfavorable terms.
The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) is provincial legislation that governs the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in residential. more
Rental income is the revenue received by a property owner from tenants who occupy residential or commercial space under a lease or rental agreement.. more
Disposition in real estate refers to the sale, transfer, or disposal of a property or asset by the owner, whether voluntarily or through legal or. more
Landlord responsibilities refer to the legal and practical obligations a property owner has toward tenants under provincial residential tenancy laws.. more
A comparable market analysis (CMA) is a pricing report prepared by real estate professionals to estimate a property’s market value based on recent. more
Adjusted cost base (ACB) is the total amount paid to acquire a property, adjusted for expenses and improvements, used to calculate capital gains when. more
This article was written and submitted by Evan Pawliuk, AVP Commercial Mortgages, First National Financial LP.
The real estate market is dramatically different now than what we have seen over the last 15 years. The condo markets in Toronto and Vancouver that performed incredibly well have slowed dramatically with thousands of unsold units now flooding the market. Purchasers are struggling with financing units purchased at the market peak and project launches are grinding to a halt.
As a result, many condo developers are attempting to pivot towards purpose-built rental. But they are also faced with immediate challenges either due to upfront costs, economic uncertainty with the ongoing trade war, softening of rents in many markets (including Toronto and Vancouver), increased volatility in bond markets, and tightening CMHC lending policies.
While it may feel as if the whole system is changing, we see this as a return to “real estate 101”.
While none of us have a crystal ball, the market seems to be returning to a more typical and normal cycle, where it is common for building lease ups or selling pre-construction condos to take longer. Navigating this new landscape requires patience, careful planning, a strong balance sheet and, in particular, a change in mindset. Regardless of market conditions, the one thing clients consistently say they want and need to make their business decisions is certainty. On the financing side, interest rates on your debt financing can help provide some pieces of certainty. With that in mind, here are some key strategies to consider.
Consider Long Over Short-Term Loans
Most CMHC insured lenders rely on the Canadian Mortgage Bond (CMB) program as the funding backbone for CMHC-insured mortgages, but the CMB program also has limits, especially for 5-year money as the demand for 5-year money has increased significantly over the 12-18 months while the yield curve has steepened. We expect this situation to continue and for 5-year spreads to continue to increase with the demand for 5-year money outstripping the supply.
So, in short, while interest rates with CMHC are currently lower for five-year terms compared to 10-year terms, there is no certainty what CMHC programs and availability will look like in five years so locking in a longer rate creates more certainty on your debt. Moreover, if you look at this option through a historical lens, a mortgage rate in the low 4% range locked in for a 10-year term is quite an attractive deal.
Early Rate Lock
Early rate lock is another tool that can be used to help create certainty. With the recent volatility in government bond yields expected to continue, locking in rates 30, 60, or even 90 days early can insulate projects from market swings that occur at the wrong time and help preserve development pro formas.
Think Like An Operator
When it comes to the multi-unit housing product you will be building, renovating, or refinancing, this is the time to think of design and capital improvement programs more than you ever had to before. Developers and asset owners need to really look at the liveability of their units. What do renters want to live in, and what will they realistically pay for it? Investors and developers that take more of an operator mindset will likely do better on this front.
Evan Pawliuk, AVP Commercial Mortgages, First National Financial LP.
It is also extremely important to know your location and the community you are building for. Be realistic about your target market, your tenant mix, and what they are looking for. Not everyone can afford the $5-6 per square foot in downtown Toronto.
Engage Your Lender Early To Maximize CMHC Programs
For developers looking for construction financing, it is important to understand how CMHC is adjusting their programs and risk appetite. Overall, CMHC’s programs and underwriting have become more aligned with a risk-off approach. CMHC may limit construction loan advances with a rental achievement holdback. They may also require bonding. Working with a lender that understands CMHC along with your track record and business will be important to putting forward a strong loan presentation.
As for new opportunities, construction loans insured under CMHC’s MLI Select program offer preferential terms for projects that meet specific social outcomes around affordability, energy efficiency, and accessibility. This is great news as many builders are already delivering on these fronts, especially those aligned with ESG principles. However, engaging your lender early will allow you to maximize those opportunities or adapt your plans to align better with those incentives.
Be Aware Of New Federal Policies That May Shift The Landscape Further
With the federal election now behind us, we should get more clarity over the next couple of months as to what actions they’ll take, and we are going to monitor that so that we can help shape projects to align. Many in the industry are keen to see if the speculation about the potential return of the MURB program, accelerated depreciation, and deferral of capital gains on the sale of assets to non-profits materializes. Real estate developers and investors should get acquainted with the various incentive programs that are being made available from all levels of government, and work with their lenders to align their business plans accordingly.
Lastly, it is equally important that your lender does not just focus on the one transaction at hand but is working with you to understand your entire real estate business and capital requirements. Engaging your lender early in this way can help unlock the full value of capital that they can bring to the table.
In an effort to position the city "to attract industrial development" that will support the its economic diversification and expanding population, Calgary is updating its Citywide Growth Strategy with a new comprehensive Industrial Action Plan.
According to the City, industrial uses such as manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation, and warehousing contributed $19.7 billion (16%) to Calgary's Gross Domestic Product in addition to supporting over 53,500 (10%) jobs.
At the same time, the industrial sector also makes up a significant portion of Calgary's property tax base, and has become an increasingly larger portion of the non-residential assessment base — from 21% to 34% over the past 10 years — as the assessment value of downtown office buildings has decreased.
"Administration examined the current state of industrial development and determined that economic conditions, particularly off-site levies and property taxes, are not optimized for attracting industrial land development within Calgary," said City staff in a recent report to the Infrastructure and Planning Committee.
"This represents a lost opportunity for the local economy and the non-residential assessment base. Stagnated development in the last decade has meant lower municipal reserve contributions via cash-in-lieu, removing a key funding source for school sites during a time when school site development is a priority. Furthermore, industrial to residential land use conversions have increased and generally been managed one by one by Administration, which has led to uncertainties for developers."
To address the aforementioned concerns, the City says it needs to take a "stronger, more urgent approach to enable industrial development" and that the new Industrial Action Plan "establishes a direction for industrial growth, identifying key actions, and where flexibility exists."
The Industrial Action Plan consists of a series of actions to modernize policy by right-sizing the industrial land base and updating industrial land use districts, investing in infrastructure that would benefit industrial uses, increasing development attractiveness with a new incentive program and property tax incentive, a monitoring of how effective the Industrial Action Plan is on an ongoing basis, among other actions.
The new Industrial Action Plan under the Citywide Growth Strategy. / City of Calgary
The possibility of a new industrial development incentive program is likely the most notable of the actions, particularly considering the Calgary's success with other incentive programs and the reality that financial assistance often makes more of a difference for developers than policy changes. The City report notes that costs to develop and operate industrial within Calgary are currently higher compared to adjacent municipalities and that an incentive program would help close this gap.
"Calgary has inherent strengths such as the proximity of jobs to a talent and labour pool, public transit and robust power and water services," said City staff, commenting on leveraging Calgary's strengths. "Enabling industrial growth within the city is complementary to future industrial market moves, including the rail-serviced focus of Prairie Economic Gateway. Focusing on subsectors such as agribusiness, transportation and logistics, and aerospace that value airport access focuses industrial development to advantageous locations in the city."
"If The City were to effectively implement the actions outlined in the Industrial Action Plan and provide funding to incentivize, for example, 100 hectares of industrial over the next two years, it is expected that development could materialize by 2031 and bring 2,400 jobs to Calgary, add $540 million in Gross Domestic Product, and generate $63.6 million from off-site levy contributions and $13.5 million of accumulated property tax revenue," added City staff.
"This is on top of the $7 billion in economic output and 30,000+ jobs anticipated for Prairie Economic Gateway over its build out. By catalyzing greater industrial development in strategic locations while facilitating strategic land use conversions, this approach will help build a city that includes a healthy industrial market, within a thriving regional economy."
On June 4, the Infrastructure and Planning Committee endorsed the new Industrial Action Plan, which will now be forwarded to Council for a decision.
If you moved into a Toronto apartment sometime in the last several months, odds are high that you would have been offered some sort of incentive to put pen to paper on a lease. The odds are actually around 63%, which is the percentage of buildings in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that were offering incentives in Q1-2025, double the amount offering in Q1-2024.
Incentives being offered range from your more traditional one to two months of free rent to more creative offers like furniture store gift cards, free car wash services, and even straight-up cash, but they all have the same goal: to fill units during a period of weak rental demand.
Associate Director of Communications at Rentals.ca, Giacomo Ladas, says the falling off in demand can be linked to a few factors, one being lower immigration targets.
“In larger markets like the GTA, incentives are a response to the slowing rental trend where demand has really declined, and that's happened a lot more with the reduction of international population growth,” Ladas tells STOREYS. “No one's moving. That's the other big part. Turn over rates are extremely low and people are just staying put a lot longer.”
On top of that, there's a historic wave of new supply coming to market, a large proportion of which offer frankly unaffordable units. “[...] what we really need right now are new units that people can afford like student rentals or studios," Ladas says.
Giocomo Ladas, Associate Director of Communications at Rentals.ca
All factors considered, demand has dipped low enough that incentives have reached pandemic levels, when no one was moving. "This is very parallel to what we saw during COVID, where property managers and landlords were trying anything we could to get people to move from their apartment," says Ladas.
At the same time, incentives aren't being offered at the same rate for all unit types or properties. Kimberly Sears, Director of Rental Suites Management at Menkes Developments says incentives are least necessary for their in-demand studios and one-bedrooms, and also for rent-controlled buildings. On the flip side, newer buildings with large numbers of unfilled units that can't offer rent control are more likely to use more incentives.
At Menkes, Sears says incentives are used more strategically than routinely. “We’ll evaluate how many days [a listing] has been on the market, what the showing traffic and tenant feedback has been, what the inventory levels and market absorption is. And these kinds of things give us an idea, at the time of doing the listing, what the competitive landscape is," she tells STOREYS.
Kimberly Sears, Director of Rental Suites Management at Menkes Developments
Sears says Menkes will focus on the perks already included in their buildings when marketing a listing. At their Sugar Wharf condos, for example, they offer Wi Fi and UNITY Fitness access included in the condo fees. "So it's already adding a meaningful value without necessarily requesting additional add ons," she explains.
At Hazelview Properties, incentives are similarly offered as a way to enhance existing value if needed. "Incentives aren’t just about filling suites — they’re a strategic tool to deliver exceptional value, foster long-term resident satisfaction, and help us attract prospective renters in today’s highly competitive market," Hazelview's Managing Partner and Head of Property Management Imraz Samim tells STOREYS. "We also invest in well-designed amenities and community spaces, all offered with no hidden fees, to create environments where people feel truly at home."
Imraz Samim, Managing Partner and Head of Property Management at Hazelview Properties
Incentives offered by at certain Hazelview properties include free Maple virtual healthcare, and discounts at Sleep Country Canada, The Brick, EQ3 Furniture, and moving company Cargo Cabbie, plus the more traditional offers like one to twomonths of free rent.
As long as demand remains sedated, renters will continue to benefit from falling rents and incentive perks, but Rentals.ca's Ladas foresees the trend reversing once the currently-brewing supply gap catches up to demand.
"We are very close to a time where there's not a lot of supply coming. When that happens, when there's not enough supply to meet demand, we will probably see incentives leave," he says. "I do think [incentives] are here to stay as we keep seeing supply coming to the market, and we still see a decrease in population growth, but when any of those factors change, I do expect that we are going to see a little bit of a pullback in these incentives.”
Tucked into one of The Annex’s most desirable pockets — just west of the action and steeped in timeless character — 497 Brunswick Avenue offers a fully restored Victorian showpiece with design choices that delight at every turn.
Currently listed for $3,495,000, this three-storey beauty combines classic architectural elegance with high-end contemporary finishes, executed with just the right degree of drama.
From the wide covered porch and custom front door, it’s immediately clear this is no cookie-cutter reno. Step into the foyer and you’re met with intricate wall panelling, crown moulding, and a checkerboard tile floor that sets the tone for the richness and boldness to come. A moody floral wallpaper draws the eye inward — and the journey doesn’t disappoint.
The living room is a study in contrasts, featuring a deeply-hued palette, bay windows that flood the space with natural light, and a stately wood-burning fireplace framed in built-in shelving. From there, the home’s energy flows into a stunning formal dining area, complete with a custom-designed banquette and, arguably, the centrepiece of the entire home: a sculptural spiral staircase that anchors the space with the flair of a modern art installation.
The spiral staircase steals the show — floating above the custom banquette and anchoring the centre of the home, it’s not just a structural feature but a statement of style. It ties every level together in both form and function, acting as a kinetic sculpture within a lovingly restored historical shell.
The kitchen is equally high-spec, with stone counters and backsplash, custom cabinetry, and a top-shelf appliance package that includes a brand new Bertazzoni range and integrated JennAir fridge, freezer, and dishwasher. A farmhouse sink and elegant hardware selections tie it all together. The kitchen opens into a cozy family room with exposed brick and a gas fireplace, creating a seamless transition from sleek to warm. This room also walks out to a professionally landscaped backyard, designed for quiet afternoons or lively entertaining.
Upstairs, three well-sized bedrooms — each with their own ensuite — offer comfort and privacy, while the third-floor primary retreat is a sanctuary of its own. Flooded with sunlight, it boasts built-ins, a spa-inspired bath with a cylindrical rain shower, and walk-out access to a private rooftop deck perched above the neighbourhood’s canopy.
The lower level is fully finished and thoughtfully designed, with polished concrete floors, a rec room, an office or bedroom space, and a stylish four-piece bath.
And finally, the lush backyard and landscaped front complete the picture, with rare legal front yard parking for two and new pavers providing both function and finesse.
If you've been seeking a haven as timeless as it is in-vogue, your search can end with 497 Brunswick Avenue.
Just steps from the cerulean shores of Lake Huron, along one of Bayfield’s most coveted stretches, 62 Tuyll Street is an extraordinary example of contemporary architecture shaped by mid-century sensibilities — all set against a backdrop of mature trees, golden sunsets, and cool lake breezes.
Currently listed for $2,650,000, this architect-designed residence occupies a rare double corner lot and offers more than 3,000 sq. ft of highly intentional, gallery-like living space.
Every inch of the home has been crafted with design lovers in mind, from its cedar-lined ceilings to the bespoke terrazzo countertops.
Inside, the design choices are a lesson in contrast and flow: polished concrete floors ground the open-concept main living area, while soaring skylights and clerestory windows bathe the space in light. At the centre of the living space is a striking double-sided gas fireplace clad in glossy black tile, serving drama from every angle. French doors extend the home outward to a professionally landscaped patio, blending indoor and outdoor living with ease.
The kitchen is a true chef’s space, as functional as it is beautiful. Premium Fisher & Paykel appliances are complemented by custom rift-sawn oak cabinetry, a tailored backsplash, and no fewer than three prep sinks. A large walk-in pantry flows seamlessly to a covered BBQ area — a rarity offering year-round, lakeside entertaining.
Elsewhere on the main floor, you’ll find a generous foyer, a two-piece powder room, and a built-in office for two defined by a bold cobalt accent wall. But the heart of the home is, undoubtedly, the ‘green room."
It has to be the green room. A meditative, light-filled greenhouse in the heart of the home, it blends natural textures and verdant life with bold architectural gestures. Under 14-foot ceilings, bougainvillea climbs toward the skylights as lake air circulates through four sets of French doors; it’s a signature space unlike any other, and a perfect reflection of the home’s design ethos.
The home’s clever layout includes a guest wing with two bedrooms, a high-design bathroom featuring polished marble and micro-cement finishes, and a 440-sq.-ft flex space with a private entrance — perfect for a creative studio, consulting practice, or fully separate work-from-home setup.
A short split-level leads to the primary retreat: a sanctuary overlooking the lake, complete with a custom marble-and-terrazzo ensuite, walk-in closet, and the gentle soundtrack of lapping waves. Below, a dedicated wellness room is ideal for yoga, fitness, or quiet stretching beneath soft natural light.
Outside, the grounds are equally refined: IPE decking, irrigated gardens, a poured concrete courtyard wall with a fire bowl, a second fire pit area, and even a roughed-in outdoor shower. A saltwater Arctic Spa hot tub adds to the year-round appeal.
Finally, a heated 900-sq.-ft garage and workshop — with loft storage and additional exterior storage — is connected to the main house via a breezeway that cleverly houses bikes, tools, and even a pingpong table.
The hotel being proposed for 1580 W 3rd Avenue in Vancouver. / Arno Matis Architecture
The City of Vancouver has received a rezoning application for a new hotel that would have the distinction as both the first mass timber hotel in Vancouver and the tallest mass timber hotel in North America, according to an application published on June 4.
The subject site of the proposal is 1500-1588 W 3rd Avenue — 1580 W 3rd Avenue, legally — near the intersection with Fir Street, northwest of Granville Loop Park. Additionally, Granville Island is located a 10-minute walk to the northeast, while Broadway is located a 10-minute walk to the south.
The narrow parcel of land has long been vacant and used as a parking lot sandwiched between a car dealership and a car servicing shop. The property was formerly two parcels that have since been consolidated and the applicants note that it was formerly a CP Rail site that is contaminated.
BC Assessment values 1580 W 3rd Avenue — as of July 1, 2024 — at $4,346,000 and the property is held under ICX Holdings Ltd. The rezoning application is ambiguous about who the true owner is, but the beneficial owner identified in the Land Owner Transparency Registry is Arno Matis of Arno Matis Architecture, which is also serving as the applicant and architect of the project.
The 1500-1588 W 3rd Avenue (1580 W 3rd Avenue) site in Vancouver. / Arno Matis Architecture
The proposal is for an 18-storey building that would reach a maximum height of 175 ft and house 160 hotel rooms, split between 144 regular king suites, eight double-king suites, and eight accessible king suites. Hotel amenities include a lounge on the ground floor, as well as a fitness centre and business centre on the roof.
The proposal includes 28 vehicle parking stalls and 36 bicycle parking stalls that would be provided in a four-level underground parkade that would also include valet service.
Architecturally, the applicants recognize that their site is mid-block and has a small frontage, but points to the St. Clair Hostel at 577 Richards Street, the Skwachàys Lodge at 31 W Pender Street, and the Hildon Hotel at 50 W Cordova Street as three examples of boutique hotels on mid-block sites with small frontages.
At 18 storeys, the hotel would become the tallest building in the immediate area, which primarily consists of low-rise commercial buildings below five storeys, although a study conducted by the applicant suggests that neighbouring properties could be rezoned and redeveloped with heights closer to 10 storeys.
A breakdown of the hotel proposed for 1580 W 3rd Avenue and its amenities. / Arno Matis Architecture
A breakdown of the hotel proposed for 1580 W 3rd Avenue and its sustainability features. / Arno Matis Architecture
The site falls under the Granville/Burrard Slopes - Area G sub-area of the Broadway Plan, which allows rezoning for 100% hotel proposals up to 4.5 FSR, with maximum height and density being flexible in order to support hotel project viability. The proposal for 1580 W 3rd Avenue has a density of 16.4 FSR, which is high due to the small size of the lot, but aligns with the density of other recently approved hotel projects in Vancouver, according to the applicants.
Some of the additional height is also attributed to the City's Mass Timber Policy for Rezonings, which allows for the possibility of two additional storeys on sites where eight to 11 storeys are already allowed, if the proposal makes use of mass timber construction. The applicants say that the choice to use mass timber will also potentially reduce embodied emissions in construction by 25% to 45% and allows for parts of the hotel to be built off-site.
As for the hotel, the applicants say that are working with Wyndham Hotel & Resorts as a potential operator of the hotel and included a letter of interest from Wyndham in its rezoning application. In the letter, Wyndham indicates that the hotel would be under its WaterWalk Extended Stay brand. Attached in the rezoning application are also letters of support from the British Columbia Hotel Association and Destination Vancouver, among others.
The proposal comes after the City of Vancouver approved its new Hotel Development Policy in April (although the rezoning application was submitted prior to that) and the City will be hosting the Q&A period for the 1580 W 3rd Avenue rezoning application from Wednesday, June 25 to Tuesday, July 8.
Rendering of 2720–2734 Danforth Avenue/Batay-Csorba Architects Inc., Collecdev-Markee Developments
Missing middle housing is severely lacking in most North American cities, including Toronto, where single-family homes and high-rise apartment buildings reign supreme. Missing from the narrative is medium density, multi-unit, lower-rise housing that provides affordable, diverse, and community-oriented options for Torontonians.
Looking to tackle this issue head on is Toronto-based Collecdev-Markee Developments, which recently launched the first project in their Missing Middle Portfolio — a collection of five purpose-built rental proposals ranging from six to eight storeys. Each project will prioritize innovation and progressive planning with pre-fabricated modular mass timber construction, minimum 10% affordable housing, no vehicular parking or below-grade components, and proximity to rapid transit, amenities, and retail services.
The first of the five proposals was filed in mid-May and seeks to replace low-rise commercial buildings and surface parking with an eight-storey, 64-unit development that would integrate an existing heritage structure. Collevdec-Markee has set its sites on 2720–2734 Danforth Avenue, an address within walking distance to Danforth GO and the Main Street subway station.
For President and CEO of Collecdev-Markee, Jennifer Keesmaat, projects like these are key to ensuring Toronto evolves in a fulsome way that supports the needs of the city and those that call it home.
“I've always been passionate about [missing middle housing] because I do feel it's foundational to walkable and sustainable cities," Keesmaat tells STOREYS. "Right now, we are really captivated by ‘sprawl’ and ‘tall.' [...] I think the next evolution of the City of Toronto is going to be beginning to transform infill sites in a very gentle and nuanced and delicate way, and that's what this Missing Middle Portfolio is about.”
Collecdev-Markee played a key role several years ago in getting six-storey buildings with up to 60 units on major roads approved as of right, a move that Keesmaat says was intended to proactively make the approval process for their Missing Middle Portfolio smoother. Then, when Valesa Faria was appointed to head the City’s Development Review division, Keesmaat knew it was the right time to launch the portfolio.
Jennifer Keesmaat, President and CEO of Collecdev-Markee Developments
“Valesa, as well as a few others at the City, recently said that getting this type of housing built in the city is a priority. And that was what inspired us to say, now's the moment to go," she shares.
But while their work to get six-storey buildings approved as of right has alleviated some of the heavy lifting, Keesmat shared that none of the projects will be as of right, due to factors like additional height being added as they assessed and reassessed their proformas throughout the planning processes.
On Danforth Avenue, for example, six storeys are approved as of right, but Collecdev-Markee decided on an eight-storey structure. As such, a Zoning Bylaw Amendment application has been filed with the City seeking to increase the maximum height allowed on that site.
Like the other four proposals, the Danforth Avenue build will be constructed using pre-fabricated modular mass timber and red brick, materials Keesmaat says give the building a homey feeling.
“We have a tagline for our company, which is ‘homes in the city,’ and we want the housing we build to feel like home," she says. "One of the reasons you see the red brick is because red brick very powerfully evokes home. We feel really strongly about using those materials that send clues that there's permanence here, that this is where you can live and thrive and raise your family.”
Renderings from Batay-Csorba Architects Inc. communicate the warm, welcoming atmosphere Keesmaat describes, with a deep red facade, inviting interior courtyard, and bustling streetscape. Notably, renderings also depict the incorporated two-storey reconstructed heritage building, which is clad in white brick and will contain “maker spaces” to accommodate smaller-scale, local entrepreneurial retail at grade.
Rendering of 2720–2734 Danforth Avenue/Batay-Csorba Architects Inc., Collecdev-Markee Developments
Zooming out, the development is comprised of three distinct but connected elements. Fronting onto Danforth Avenue would be the existing heritage building and an adjoining four-storey building home to the residential lobby entrance and a street facing amenity space at grade. At the rear of this building (Building A) would be an exterior staircase connecting to the ground-level courtyard located at the heart of the development.
In the proposals' planning rationale, the courtyard is described as "the shared backyard for building residents, envisioned as a communal gathering space with flexible seating, interspersed with lush, naturalistic planting."
The courtyard serves as an outdoor amenity space and would be surrounded on four sides by the wall of an existing commercial building to the east, Building A in the south, a covered walkway connecting Building A to Building B in the west, and finally Building B in the north. Building B would rise eight storeys and contain the majority of the residential units.
If the site design sounds unique, that's because it is. "It's almost like a little composition of buildings, and it looks very distinct," says Keesmaat. "There's nothing else like it in the city. This was designed specifically for 2720 Danforth Avenue."
Another unique aspect of the development — and one that will run through all five proposals — is the lack of vehicle parking and underground elements. The choice to forgo parking, especially underground parking, is both more economical and sustainable, but it's also better aligned with where Toronto is headed as a city, says Keesmaat.
“This is really about adding housing without adding cars. The character of living in these homes is about going out your front door and walking down the street to buy your groceries every day, walking down the street to the cafe, hopping on the TCC in order to get to work or to visit friends," she explains. "It's also about the kind of future city that we're building. If we build out these types of sites at scale, we begin to strengthen the character of local neighbourhoods, without adding cars.”
The portfolio also places an emphasis on catering to the housing needs of existing families and individuals in the city, by providing affordable rental housing near transit, but also by including a wide range of unit sizes. Plans divide the 64 rental units into 55% two-bedroom, 42% one-bedroom, and 3% studio apartments, offering "a healthy proportion of family-sized units" and accommodating different incomes and ages.
As the first of the Missing Middle Portfolio proposals, 2720 Danforth represents a key step towards providing Torontonians with alternative and more affordable housing options that bring value to the city through their innovative design and community building ethos.
As for the remaining four proposals, location and details remain under wraps as community consultations have yet to take place, but Keesmaat shares that plans should be released over the next three to four months.
A phrase my daughter likes to use, 'delulu is the solulu,' suggests that by embracing a 'delusional' mindset, you can achieve your goals, even if they seem far-fetched. A popular concept amongst Gen X.
Delusion seems to be the solution for the older generation out there — those that are not as hip and cool as me. But what does this have to do with housing, math, or anything I would have an opinion on?
Simple. Our solutions to addressing the housing crisis at all three levels of government is based on a foundation of delusion: A false belief or judgment about external reality, held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary.
Canadians are being played. Most of the population have a less than a Grade 7 understanding of housing development and the associated economics, and while this might be shocking, the average politician has an even lower understanding. At the municipal level, the fact the average councillor remembers to breathe every couple of seconds is the level the bar is set for expectations around housing. Finding Nemo's Dory the fish — that is the type of person that is running our housing system in government.
It’s not complicated to see the delusion, it sits right at the end of the average person’s nose. The issue is they are busy worrying about feeding the kids, paying the mortgage, or deciding whether or not they need a permit for their tent in an encampment (no B.S., the City of Toronto just created an expedited approval system for tents).
Distracted people, they make great participants in the Housing Ponzi Scheme. That distraction also makes people susceptible to the delusional housing policies sounding like they might work.
Ford promising of 1.5 million homes by 2031. Utterly delusional from the day it was announced.
Carney promising 500,000 homes per year. Delusional.
Trudeau promised 3.87M homes by 2031. Delusional.
John Tory — how many affordable homes did he promise? Forty thousand by 2031? Delusional.
Olivia Chow promising just 65,000 rental homes in 7 years and 25,000 rent-controlled units on City land……
I could list so many promises across Canada that are utterly delusional. So why are these statements made? Well, it’s so people think something is being done. It’s obvious it’s not possible, but if you’re trying to feed a kid, work three jobs, et cetera, you’re not exactly focused on complex nuances of housing economics. Hey, the beer-guy salesman on TV said we will have 1.5 million homes soon — sounds pretty good.
It’s all a huge con game — a confidence trick — the average person is being played, duped, conned, and messed with at an epic scale. The housing system is designed to protect the 65% of Canadians who own a home. I have written before that, generally, poor people don't vote so they can eat cake; NIMBY’s are old people with no life that own a home, but they vote.
And the NIMBYs made millions of dollars out of opposing new homes. Drive around a Toronto neighbourhood and look at how many $2-million to $4-million homes have $25,000 to $30,000 cars in the driveways. They got rich by being in the right place at the right time; there is no generated wealth, only property value accumulation.The middle class got rich by owning a home, now they tell everyone else you don’t get the opportunity too and they are supported by government policy to do that.
The housing system is not being fixed because they do not want to — it's political suicide. Ten thousand homeless people in Toronto are inconvenient collateral damage; people on the bread line are a side issue because they do not have a loud enough voice. It’s no different if you look at Alberta, ignored by Ottawa because the loudest people are in Ontario and Quebec (and by 'loud,' I mean enough people vote in numbers that make a difference).
Should people start to see past the delusion (on any aspect of government), Plan B comes into play: distraction. Trump made Ford and Carney this go around, and they should be showering him in planes and gifts thanking him. The other distractions: war on bike paths, hobbit tunnels under 401, $200,000 statues, and accessible beer everywhere (nice to have but not really the priority).
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIX THE HOUSING SYSTEM. IT WOULD BE POLITICAL SUICIDE.
“No. I think that we need to deliver more supply, make sure the market is stable. It’s a huge part of our economy,” said Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson on his way to the first meeting of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet, when asked specifically if he thinks home prices needed to go down. The quiet bit said out loud; Trudeau has mentioned this in the past.
So instead, we all run around in a deluded state, pretending things will get better. The math says it will get worse.
Our economy is terrible compared to where it should be, so average wages are not going to go up fast enough. Housing is broken so prices will come down a little bit, but then spiral out of control again. I think it was Mike Moffatt that said it would take some crazy double-digit number of years – like 50 – for incomes to catch up with house prices. So, Robertson, you’re utterly delulu.
Welcome to Canada, where delusion is a daily survival tactic, and our politicians have figured out how to manipulate people into believing they have a solution to everything, when ultimately, they intend to fix almost nothing. When you think of solutions in such short-term timeframes, you cannot fix much, only focus on get reelected until the pension kicks in.
We need to move away from being world leaders in bureaucracy, task forces and consultant reports.
Delusion needs to become aggressive targets we want to focus on and hit.
Canada needs to become an economic powerhouse with homes for all.
Can we solve the housing challenge? Right now, not a chance in hell. Do we have the potential to do it? Yes. Do we have the ability to do it? Yes.
But until politicians loosen the shackles on the people of Canada, do their job – stop playing at being Dory – we are doomed to a life of 'delulu is the solulu.'