This a big month for laneway (housing) advocates in Toronto. Last week, City Council voted in favor of expanding the policy provisions for laneway suites to all Neighbourhoods within the city. (Neighbourhood is a defined term in the city's Official Plan.)
Previously, the policies -- which allow laneway suites to be built as-of-right -- only applied to the Toronto & East York Districts. Here's a copy of the recent staff report in case you would like more information.
On Monday, my friend Alex Sharpe (of Lanescape) was on BNN Bloomberg talking about why this is a good thing for the city. Alex and the rest of the team at Lanescape have been instrumental in these policy changes.
If you're a Toronto homeowner with a property that fronts onto a laneway, I would encourage you to consider this opportunity. It's a way to increase the value of your home and it's a way to create more rental housing in this city.
Dan Doctoroff, the CEO of Sidewalk Labs (and the former deputy mayor of New York City), was recently interviewed by BNN Bloomberg about the company’s plans and ambitions for Quayside here in Toronto.
He talks about the project; their interest in timber construction; how the company, Sidewalk Labs, might ultimately make money; and how their mission is to create a global hub for urban innovation.
This last point is, of course, the most exciting opportunity – both for Sidewalk Labs/Alphabet and for Toronto. And it’s why many people believe that Quayside will end up a far greater (economic development) coup compared to HQ2.
The interview is only 10 minutes. If you can’t see it embedded below, click here.