11-16-2021, 10:30 PM
I don't know the answer, but it seems to be a pickle. If it is not an option to build more suburbs to provide a an equivalent sized living unit that offers the same size as a 1500 square foot penthouse at a similar price, and nor an option to build a 1500 square foot apartment to accommodate the size of family unit that is currently not served by the available housing in Waterloo Region, what's left? Surely, in the 2000+ years of urban living, there are creative solutions out there.
Short of pushing those families into either inadequate housing, or housing that is too far away to be useful for their other needs and tasks, are we willing to say, "Sorry, but your family unit or needs are not welcome in this community?" This is not a natural consequence that I like. Are developers willing to do some of the work to provide those needs? (I might ask the same question of the other players in this equation too, but my understanding is that staff and politicians don't have much power to drive this kind of change, nor do those who don't happen to own an acre of property and/or have deep pockets to finance such a project have much power either)
Short of pushing those families into either inadequate housing, or housing that is too far away to be useful for their other needs and tasks, are we willing to say, "Sorry, but your family unit or needs are not welcome in this community?" This is not a natural consequence that I like. Are developers willing to do some of the work to provide those needs? (I might ask the same question of the other players in this equation too, but my understanding is that staff and politicians don't have much power to drive this kind of change, nor do those who don't happen to own an acre of property and/or have deep pockets to finance such a project have much power either)