04-23-2024, 01:05 PM
(10-25-2021, 08:17 PM)nms Wrote: One could argue that asking for any number of nuisance additions to a development could cut into a developer's profits. Fire safety systems for one. When was the last time a high density building actually burnt to the ground? So obviously those are just useless. And elevators, very expensive. Why should buildings have more than one? That just cuts into profits. And mail rooms? Why not force Canada Post to put community boxes out front instead? You could squeeze another unit in the mail room space.
If a building is to become a complete community, then I think that there is definitely grounds to encourage affordable housing within buildings.
This particular development is creating 253 units and barely providing enough funding for 1.5 units of affordable housing. The Region's current waiting list for affordable housing is somewhere between 5000 and 6000 units. At this rate, we will need 4000 new buildings built to collect enough affordable housing funds to support new affordable housing in Waterloo Region. While the development pace is quick in town, I doubt we're going to get there any time soon. I am also not convinced that building 4000 new buildings, skewed heavily towards luxury, single bedroom units is going to solve the housing problem either.
Maybe a bit off-topic but this comment got me thinking in regards to affordable housing - is that something that is feasible? As in, would the wealthy or upper middle class want to live in a building where a fairly high proportion of units is designated as affordable housing? Given the choice, would they choose that particular building or one that does not have affordable housing? Just putting myself in the developer's shoes, and again I'm just thinking out loud and could be 100% wrong here, but how would I market a building that has a mix of units like that...in any case this is a great discussion to have