King-Victoria Transit Hub

[tomh009]

Artificial scarcity (zoning and NIMBYs) plays a part, for sure. But non-artificial scarcity (next to Victoria Park and a short walk to many employers, restaurants and bars) is another factor why this particular property is so valuable.

In this particular case, if the region is looking at building an affordable-focused/affordable-only building (similar to what Kitchener Housing provides) there are certainly less expensive properties available that don't require car ownership. The east end has plenty of (less expensive) land ready for redevelopment, next to the LRT, not far from the IHT and a 15-20 minute walk from DTK.

I think being close to a large park, and restaurants and bars and employers is an artificial scarcity.

I agree that there could be other locations, near the LRT that could be better but the whole line is gentrifying right now. And outside of uptown, downtown, maybe midtown most of the neighborhoods aren’t particularly walkable even with the LRT. That’s not to say that they couldn’t be, but only if the artificial scarcity that makes DTK desirable disappears, which won’t until we stop sprawling. Sprawl ensures that sprawl/car oriented plazas will continue to dominate anywhere that there isn’t a density that can only be supported by high values.

Not as walkable as the old bus station, no, but walkable for some people for sure (I walk frequently 20 minutes to Sobeys). And the LRT ensures that a car is not a requirement to live there. Intensification is already happening in the east end and it will continue. Alas, higher intensity also increases the value of the land. It doesn't however, mean that every location on the LRT route will be equally expensive.