+- Waterloo Region Connected (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com)
+-- Forum: Urban Issues (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+--- Forum: Urban Issues (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=11)
+--- Thread: Population and Housing (/showthread.php?tid=303)
RE: Population and Housing - bravado - 03-16-2023
I have to add that this report seems to be deliberately misleading. “Approved” is a word that means something very different to planners vs regular citizens and seems to push blame on to lazy selfish developers that doesn’t seem fully appropriate.
Twitter thread with some great informed replies:
https://twitter.com/alexbozikovic/status/1635789047908933632
RE: Population and Housing - tomh009 - 03-16-2023
(03-15-2023, 10:03 PM)nms Wrote: The report was released by the Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario, but I can not find any reference to them elsewhere online, nor a copy of the report. I would be interested to see if the report chose Waterloo Region as one of the 15 municipalities studied and also whether the approved, yet unbuilt, units cover the full range of housing needs, or more narrower bands of the market (eg single-bedroom units). If the former, getting these units build would be a good thing. If the latter, it could simply perpetuate the problem of not creating housing to match the full range needed in Canada (eg multi-bedroom units regardless of building type that are suitable for families; or affordable units; or rental units)
"The Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario (RPCO) represents the planning directors, commissioners and other senior planning officials of municipal governments across Ontario.
Its current membership includes the Cities of Chatham-Kent, Guelph, Greater Sudbury, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Windsor; the Regional Municipalities of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo, and York; Counties of Simcoe and Haldimand; and the District Municipality of Muskoka."
https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/housing/regional-planning-commissioners-of-ontario-make-strong-case-for-inclusionary-housing/
RE: Population and Housing - ac3r - 03-17-2023
On March 29th, the City of Kitchener is holding a meeting regarding "More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022, Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, and Bill 13, Supporting People and Businesses Act, 2021".
![[Image: NZb6t4X.png]](https://i.imgur.com/NZb6t4X.png)
RE: Population and Housing - ZEBuilder - 05-10-2023
Ford was in the Region on Tuesday talking at Catalyst 137 and his talk was wide range but had some interesting comments about the housing crisis.
Ford Calls for Collaboration to Solve Housing Crisis
One of his comments is the following, "'If we can flood the market and have the supply to make sure the people have an attainable home or affordable or non-profit, then the costs are going to at least level off, or maybe dip a little bit,' said Ford."
It seems as if he is lacking the basic understanding that developers do not ever want to flood the market since it cuts into their profits. Between Vive, Zehr, Dov Capital, Polocorp, IN8 and Vanmar there are over 11000 units proposed, of them only 3600 are fully approved for construction (have OPA/ZBA, Site plan approval) of those 3600 there is only 1500 that have any sign of construction activities (Station Park T3 and 3241 King St E). So it seems to be that if he wants to flood the market he needs to incentivize developers to do so since there is 2000 units that are just sitting there completely approved with no action.
RE: Population and Housing - danbrotherston - 05-10-2023
It would be nice if the journalist talked at all about what housing advocates say about the issues. Like how additional sprawl won't solve the housing crisis, and it will only continue to do unsustainable economically disastrous construction.
They could even have touched on how the biggest obstacle is zoning...but alas, I'll settle for the completely un-highlighted but at least present in the article disconnect between "we need collaboration" and "Ford unilaterally overrode cities".
RE: Population and Housing - ac3r - 05-10-2023
(05-10-2023, 11:00 AM)ZEBuilder Wrote: One of his comments is the following, "'If we can flood the market and have the supply to make sure the people have an attainable home or affordable or non-profit, then the costs are going to at least level off, or maybe dip a little bit,' said Ford."
When you elect a college dropout to lead you to glory, it sure as heck shows...
RE: Population and Housing - bravado - 05-10-2023
Technically, supply and demand is the right answer…
But you know that Doug only wants his friends to build and sell that supply 🙄
RE: Population and Housing - tomh009 - 05-10-2023
(05-10-2023, 11:00 AM)ZEBuilder Wrote: Between Vive, Zehr, Dov Capital, Polocorp, IN8 and Vanmar there are over 11000 units proposed, of them only 3600 are fully approved for construction (have OPA/ZBA, Site plan approval) of those 3600 there is only 1500 that have any sign of construction activities (Station Park T3 and 3241 King St E).
Vive has ongoing construction at Margaret/Victoria (and wrapping up at Borden/East Ave, Woodside and Ophelia), and they are excavating at King/Borden. That's five active projects for a relatively small player.
RE: Population and Housing - bravado - 06-28-2023
I thought I'd share some data from a real Ontario housing policy expert (twitter: https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt) about Ontario municipalities and their cumulative and May monthly housing starts + completions. There's some shocking data from the usual suspects (Mississauga, Guelph) and some mediocre data from us.
https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1673986105949954048
![[Image: FzsxeHzWAAEZZXZ?format=png&name=900x900]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzsxeHzWAAEZZXZ?format=png&name=900x900)
https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1673989818974437377
![[Image: Fzs0pwdXsAAKuDU?format=png&name=900x900]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fzs0pwdXsAAKuDU?format=png&name=900x900)
There's a bunch more data in the twitter thread, but I don't want to spam anybody.