> If the primary issue is the wealthy controlling housing then why is the brand new Toronto mayor, a representative of the working class party (NDP), have zero stuff about reforming housing policy like zoning and height limits, or anything about anti-NIMBYism? Basically the stuff that's very obviously been holding back development forever.
I have no idea what you're complaining about. All of the policies you want are what she is promising. And has done.
She made it so that you can now build four story, four unit multiplexes. It's right there on the website you linked. This already happened a few months ago.
And she says "Olivia would streamline, coordinate and simplify the approval process for housing so we can get more built, faster."
And she wants to put a wealth tax on those expensive homes you don't like.
You can complain that the city could move faster. But, all of the things you want are what she is doing.
> Olivia would streamline, coordinate and simplify the approval process for housing so we can get more built, faster
Those are generic sentences without substance. Of course the city wants to be efficient. But unless I hear specifics I'm extremely skeptical.
> She made it so that you can now build four story, four unit multiplexes
Good, but city approval for heights is probably the most boring and lowest hanging of my complaints. Zoning reform and NIMBYism is 90% of what reduces supply and kills off meaningful development.
This is a multi-decade crisis, it's not a minor policy debate in city council.
Even if they can get approval for a 4 story multiplex the fact 90% are building skyscrapers instead of other (legal) arrangements happen because it's the only one people are willing to risk $$$ on. It's extremely risky to run a development project in the city, because a) where you can build is severely capped so you have to build as high as possible and b) if you're going to navigate all of roadblocks and NIMBY backed lawyering you better be getting a property who's ROI can fund teams of lawyers and support years of development, often well before any construction start.
If we actually want to solve the housing crisis we literally need to start razing whole blocks of single family homes, industrial areas, old office buildings, etc and build high density housing.
This is radical stuff. Nothing about what Chow is proposing is anywhere close to addressing the crisis.
Four unit multiplexes is a joke. No city with a population above 100k should have any restriction on height or density of any kind. With the cost of acquiring a house and the permitting BS, I'm sure very few of these multiplexes will be profitable to build.
I have no idea what you're complaining about. All of the policies you want are what she is promising. And has done.
She made it so that you can now build four story, four unit multiplexes. It's right there on the website you linked. This already happened a few months ago.
And she says "Olivia would streamline, coordinate and simplify the approval process for housing so we can get more built, faster."
And she wants to put a wealth tax on those expensive homes you don't like.
You can complain that the city could move faster. But, all of the things you want are what she is doing.