Why it’s high time for midrise developments in the GTA
Some people are suggesting the construction of more midrise residences to potentially ease housing supply challenges in the GTA.
Midrise development typically refers to structures up to 11 storeys that can be built in walkable, transitoriented neighbourhoods. Done well, midrise is people-friendly housing that fits into existing neighbourhoods and doesn’t overpower the lower density that usually surround main streets.
In 2010, the city of Toronto released “The Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study,” which called for more growth along arterial corridors known as “The Avenues,” and gentle intensification in the form of midrise buildings that would be compatible with the adjacent neighbourhoods.
While the study itself was admirable, the city has yet to take the necessary actions to enable the development community to readily deliver midrise buildings. The city’s planning department has not taken the critical next steps to update zoning bylaws in support of midrise development. Our industry has repeatedly asked for more predesignation and pre-zoning of land to encourage more such development, but it has yet to happen.
Despite the challenges, BILD members are finding ways to deliver midrise housing options. According to Altus Group, BILD’s official source for new-home market insight, 39 per cent of the new condo apartment projects that were launched in the GTA between 2014 and 2016 were in buildings of nine storeys or less. While 25 per cent of the new condominium apartment buildings in Toronto were fewer than 10 floors, 61 per cent of those in 905 municipalities were. Many BILD members have been constructing midrise buildings for years. Ronald Herczeg at Insoho Developments, for instance, has made an art of designing midrise buildings.
The loft conversion of the Malthouse at the Distillery District, for instance, is one of Insoho’s signature developments.
It features 10 unique units that exemplify the building form. Insoho is now selling Imagine, at Kennedy Rd. and St. Clair Ave. E., which features striking contemporary architecture along one of the city’s designated main streets.
As the Altus numbers showed, the industry is building midrise developments across the entire GTA. PACE on Main, by Geranium Corp., is currently under construction in Stouffville and SigNature Communities brought Triumph, a sevenstorey midrise in the heart the old village of Schomberg, to the market with great success.
Last year we changed many of the categories in our annual industry awards program, BILD Awards, to better reflect our members’ work in midrise.
Among the advances was the introduction of a new category for Best Mid-Rise Building Design. It was won by the VANDYK Group of Companies for its Craftsman Condominium Residences in Mississauga’s Clarkson Village. The project includes almost 300 homes, in one- to three-bedroom units ranging in size from 602 sq. ft. to and 1,750 sq. ft.
The finalists in the category this year are all located in Toronto and they range from luxury boutique developments to a project featuring a range of housing units, including some priced for first-time buyers. They are Marlin Spring for Canvas, Stafford Homes Ltd for Avenue & Park, and the Rockport Group for George Condos + Towns, and the Residences of the Hunt Club.
We will announce the winner in this category and 50 others at the BILD Awards on April 28. Bryan Tuckey is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. Find him on Twitter @bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta and bildblogs.ca.