By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Learn how municipalities are making progress on the 10-year target (2022–2031) and their 2024 targets to build new homes. That building is going to change the Burlington you know today to something you can only imagine.
How many housing units have actually been built and where?
Ontario has set a goal of building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031 and has assigned the province’s 50 largest municipalities with housing targets to help meet this goal. The province is encouraging municipalities to meet their targets through the creation of the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund, which rewards municipalities that reach at least 80% of their annual target with funding, with bonus funding for municipalities that exceed their targets. Ten per cent of the fund has been reserved for small, rural and northern municipalities that have not been assigned a housing target.
Nothing to write home about with numbers like this. Mayor Meed Ward explains that the city does not build houses – all they do is issue building permits that allow developers to build. And right now – the developers are keeping their shovels in the workshop.
This tracker relies on monthly housing starts data provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Adam, where do you get 584 units.?
You need to get informed on these applications and the reality of the provincial plan, instead of your same old complaint on taxes – developers only want 30+ floors, and they own and land and have applications in, but go to OLT, are not building them.
And what they build they don’t, or can’t sell, as I point out here.
It will take far more, if ever, than 5 years to catch up. I think never, as the reality is more than 6 years for 35 Plains, and 4 for 92 Plains already.
This is not about to get better for what they want, which is not affordable.
Developers are not only keeping their shovels in the ground, the are also cashing in the value of the permits into higher values of OP and zoning amendments.
I have been wondering about 2 older OLT approvals in my area – 35 Plains Rd, approved for 9 stories, and 72 units in 2018, and 92 Plains Rd. approved for 7 floors and 49 units. Both have sat in weed and dirt since approval.
Presently, the developer at 35 Plains has applied for amendments in a new application for 12 stories and 161 units.
There has not been any action announced at 92 Plains, but it’s easy to see the incentive to at least research it.
I have been wondering about a number of OLT approvals in Aldershot that have shown no sign of starting. As well, Solid Gold, Clearview, Downsview Plaza, are all just approved but just dirt and grass, there are others in process looking to be headed that way.
It looks to me that a new likely highhow capital return on investment is in the buying of approved OLT medium to large residential builds amendments and using them as the basis for a reinvestment application to City.
I participated in both these OLT Hearings and can sense the growth mood today is even more generous. I don’t support it as what they got to begin with was seen to be enough by the residents, participants, developer lawyers and planners, so – what makes more “good planning” other than money?
Looks to me the value quality was not there. Or did they not try hard enough to sell?
35 Plains got more than double the permitted units. Will 92 Plains Rd do the same thing? The same situation holds in this case. Double the money prize.
Again, all “good planning” was stated by witnesses and lawyers. I’m waiting to see the story the “experts” spin to explain away the “good planning”.
67 units in 2024!! And only 584 in 2023!! No wonder our taxes are going up so much, we have no new property taxes coming in. Great job Burlington!!! Fighting development for the past 5 years is really starting to hurt now.