That’s not a healthy way to build a City, and an extremely disappointing outcome. This refusal is contrary to the firm direction the Federal government, who have previously denied us funding for dragging our feet on this and other housing issues. Provincial policy supports this change as well, as it seeks modest intensification across our City. To be clear, this will likely mean less federal money for the 40,000 affordable rental and supportive homes Council has agreed to create by 2030, further jeopardizing efforts to reduce pressure on our shelter system.
Council instead chose to “pilot” sixplexes functionally in pre-amalgamation Toronto–where sixplexes already exist in some capacity–and to Ward 23 (Scarborough North). While a pragmatic choice to ensure some new permissions in the City passed at Council, I am concerned that it continues to send a message that growth is not going to be properly accommodated outside of the Downtown. I’m not concerned about sixplexes, and would even welcome them. That is because I’m not reviewing applications for sixplexes, I’m getting applications for 50-storey-plus buildings. Land values in the Downtown are far too high to make a mere four-storey building with six units a good return on investment. While intensification in Neighbourhoods–which represent over a third of the City–cannot accommodate relatively modest growth, that will continue to put development pressure on wards like Toronto Centre.
So this policy change may create some sixplexes, but it’s not going to create the critical mass of missing middle housing that this city needs. That and the potential loss of Housing Accelerator Funding is a damning statement that declares the City of Toronto is not serious about solving our housing crisis. Anyone who has followed “Graphic” Matt Elliot’s City Hall Watcher newsletter knows that I believe in and support Mayor Chow’s work at Council, and have been one of her most consistent supporters. Unfortunately in this case, this failure to pass reasonable new policy and zoning City-wide to allow sixplexes rests with the Mayor. I truly hope that this is not a sign of things to come for the future of housing in our City.
In brighter news, I look forward to seeing you at our Community Environment Day in Regent Park on July 19 and our movie night on July 25 in Moss Park. If you bring you and your family out, I’ll bring the popcorn.
Yours in Service,
Chris Moise
City Councillor
Ward 13 - Toronto Centre
