The City of Toronto is continuing to take bold steps to address the rising demand for housing and help deliver on the Province of Ontario’s target of 285,000 new homes in Toronto by 2031. In line with these goals, City staff have proposed various recommendations to increase housing options in neighbourhoods, along transit corridors and within existing apartment sites.
The proposed actions are captured in six reports that were released today and will be considered by the Planning and Housing Committee on Thursday, June 12. These reports broadly aim to capture the following key directions:
1. Expanding Permissions for Low-rise Sixplexes: A report recommending that five- and six-unit low-rise multiplexes be permitted across all residential neighbourhoods in the city. These permissions would apply to both new construction and conversions of existing detached houses, increasing flexibility and creating new opportunities for homeowners and homebuilders.
2. Multiplex Monitoring Program: A report confirming that multiplex construction is growing and proposing additional changes to the City’s zoning bylaws to further facilitate and simplify the construction of multiplexes across Toronto.
3. Neighbourhood Intensification Bulletin: A research snapshot estimating how much housing could potentially be added across Toronto as a result of the City’s Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods planning initiatives including laneway suites, garden suites, multiplexes and housing along major streets. It is estimated that these initiatives could create up to 54,600 homes by 2031, and up to 163,785 homes by 2051.
4. Avenues Policy Review (Phase Two): A report outlining the approach to enabling more mid-rise buildings (typically six to 11 storeys) on key transit corridors across the city. This supports the creation of housing near transit, shops and services to form complete communities.
5. Apartment Infill Study: A report recommending citywide zoning changes to allow new infill housing and the conversion of underused space to new housing on existing apartment tower sites. These changes could apply to 5,000 existing apartment sites across Toronto, creating opportunities to add housing while maintaining existing rental stock.
In particular, the recommendations to expand low-rise sixplexes and permit apartment infill developments across Toronto fulfill commitments made by the City under the $471.1 million agreement with the Government of Canada through the Housing Accelerator Fund.
A separate report on the Development Pipeline 2024 provides a snapshot of development activity from 2020 to 2024 including where and how much new housing is being built across Toronto. Notably, this represents the largest development pipeline ever recorded in Toronto, with 854,898 proposed homes and 2,335 projects. For the same period, Toronto delivered half of all completed homes in the Greater Toronto Area, doubling the proportion of housing completions since the 1990s.
More information on the staff recommendations is available on the City’s Planning and Housing Committee agenda webpage.
Quotes:
“The City of Toronto is using the tools available to us to update planning rules and make it easier to build housing in more places citywide. In the midst of an urgent housing crisis, these changes will help accelerate the construction of new homes and support complete communities across Toronto.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“These recommendations are based on in-depth research and data and illustrate the range of housing opportunities that could be available to Torontonians in the years ahead. The proposed zoning bylaw amendments can help unlock many more homes, but also enable more vibrant, thriving neighbourhoods for current and future residents across the city.”
– Councillor Gord Perks (Parkdale-High Park), Chair, Planning and Housing Committee
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