Let’s build our way to affordable, gentle-density housing
I’m sure you’ve heard the term “missing middle” when it comes to the type of housing that is lacking in the GTA. But what exactly is it?
This type of development refers to midrise commercial buildings and condos with street-level retail, stacked townhouses and row houses that are built next to transit in new and established suburban neighbourhoods. I like to call this type of construction gentle density.
Stacked towns are becoming more popular around the GTA, especially in tight infill lots that are too small for midrise or highrise buildings. By stacking one unit on top of another, residents have the advantage of a two-storey, house-style layout with the added convenience of a condo.
The lower unit typically has outside access in the form of a patio or terrace, while the upper unit usually has a balcony or rooftop terrace.
Gentle-density housing takes up less space. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC), traditional row housing allows for 14 to 18 units per acre, while stacked townhomes can be built at 26 to 27 units per acre.
The higher, but still gentle, density provides a more affordable product for home buyers. With stacked townhomes, the building industry is meeting the insatiable demand for ground-related housing at an affordable price point.
Midrise dwellings are highly sought after by home buyers. In 2016, a study by the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development called “Will GTA Homebuyers Really Give Up Ground-Related Homes For Apartments?” shows that as millennials start having children, they want to live in a home with more space.
Midrise homes give consumers a larger selection of home styles to choose from. They are great places for families to grow together and where first-time buyers can afford something other than a unit in a highrise condo building.
The industry is responding to the needs of consumers and is finding ways to deliver gentle-density housing options. According to Altus Group, BILD’s official source for new home market intelligence, 36 per cent of the new condo apartment projects that were launched in the GTA between 2014 and 2017 were in buildings of nine storeys or less.
Governments are also recognizing the need to support gentle-density construction.
Earlier this year, the City of Toronto’s Townhouse and Low-Rise Apartment Guidelines were approved and are a step to increase the number of townhouse and lowrise development projects in Toronto.
We can do better if we all work together. As the municipal elections approach, we are encouraging voters to talk to their candidates about ways to bring different types of housing to market that people can afford to buy. Visit www.buildforgrowth.ca and send a message to your local council or mayoral candidate to commit to increase housing supply and affordability for the people of the GTA.