The city hopes streamlining the construction of multifamily housing will slow the growth of housing costs and prevent the displacement of residents as the city grows.
The zoning reform movement is making headway north of the border, with Toronto approving two- to four-unit multiplexes, also known as ‘missing middle housing,’ across the city, according to a report by Shawn Jeffords on CBC.
The move is part of a plan to build 285,000 new homes in the next decade to address the city’s rising housing costs. “With the vote, council will change the types of permissions needed to build a multiplex, ensuring property owners who want to build one can now apply for a building permit rather than a much more rigourous approval to change the city's official plan or zoning by-laws.”
“The city is expecting 700,000 new residents by 2051, but with sky-rocketing home and rental prices affordability is already a problem,” Jeffords explains. Councillor Brad Bradford, a supporter of the decision, acknowledged the multiplex rule wouldn’t be a silver bullet solution for the housing crisis, but said that the city needs “1,000 points of innovation.”
FULL STORY: Toronto city council approves multiplexes to address growing housing crisis
‘Missing Middle Housing’ Bill Passes in Washington Senate
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Commentary: Minimum Lot Sizes Drive Up Housing Costs
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New Jersey Calls for 85,000 New Housing Units
A state law known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine mandates that each jurisdiction accommodate enough new housing units to meet the local demand for affordable housing.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
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A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service