The 8 points the housing minister wanted before giving Toronto the Accelerator Fund:
• Increase minimum allowable density and minimum allowable height within walking distance to transit. Consider the merits and opportunities of the legislation introduced by the provincial government in British Columbia and advocate alignment with Ontario’s approval of Toronto’s Protected Major Transit Station Area Official Plan;
• Streamline the issuance of building permits through innovative digital technologies which enable more automation and conserve valuable staff time;
• Where enabled by legislation, empower City staff in decision-making to ensure routine matters do not have to be decided on by Council, and where constrained by legislation move forward on ways to expedite the process, including and in particular for modular and non-market affordable housing as well as allow them more flexibility with development applications;
• Significantly increase the percentage of land in the City with 4 storey as-of-right zoning;
• Commit to reducing restrictions requiring angular planes and rules regarding the “no net new shadow” policy that restricts apartments to areas further from parks and schools;
• Allow more multi-tenant housing within walking distance to post-secondary institutions without parking minimums or unit caps;
• Where enabled by legislation, establish pre-approved designs including for four unit multiplexes, and accessory dwelling units like garden and laneway suites; and
• In implementing HAF initiatives, work with Toronto’s world-class foundation and philanthropic community to leverage funding for the city’s Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program.
Density without walkability means non-stop traffic.
Walkable neighborhoods need retail businesses. We need to be able to do everyday errands by foot if we want to keep traffic to reasonable levels.
Without the parking I’d hope that municipalities be smart enough to sort that part out themselves.
Based on the way things are today, I can’t make any assumptions that people in charge have any idea of what it takes to make a neighborhood ditch the car.
Those apartments/condos will go up and still be worth a million each. What’s the plan for making these places affordable? That’s the bigger problem. Nothing is reasonable in the GTA between rents or mortgages.
