TRREB Statement on Toronto City Council’s Approval of Townhomes and Small Six-Storey Residential Units Along Major Roads
May 24 2024 - 1:54PM
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) continues to
champion the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON)
initiative aimed at building more low-rise housing in residential
neighbourhoods to meet the needs of our growing city.
Last night’s decision by Toronto City Council to allow townhomes
and small six-storey residential units with a maximum of 60 units
to be built along major roads as-of-right is a big win for housing
affordability. Council’s decision builds on a less ambitious
original plan to only allow townhomes and small residential units
to a maximum of 30 units on the “edges of neighbourhoods” and along
some major roads. The expansion of the original plan to build
more homes is a momentous decision that will benefit generations of
Torontonians.
TRREB urged City Council to approve this proposal, and we are
thrilled to see this ambitious plank of the EHON initiative move
forward.
This change will also make the City of Toronto a more equitable
and inclusive city by reversing decades of zoning policy that was
historically used to prevent the building of more units in existing
neighbourhoods. For too long, Toronto’s planning policies forced
working families and individuals to live on the edges of the city
and endure long commutes. Council’s decision will help generate
more affordable units in every neighbourhood so that people can
live closer to where they work and play.
TRREB is also acknowledging City of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow
and Councillor Brad Bradford for their tireless efforts to ensure
Toronto rises to the challenge of its historic affordability
crisis. Toronto is lucky to have civic leaders who are working hard
to ensure our city remains one of the best places to live in.
Jennifer PearceTRREB
President
Media Inquiries:Maria
Karafilidis, Manager, Public Affairs
maria.karafilidis@trreb.ca 416-443-8139
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board is
Canada’s largest real estate board with over 70,000 residential and
commercial professionals connecting people, property and
communities.