Garden suites failing to provide housing growth in Toronto

Just six garden suites have been built in the city since the start of 2022. The smaller units on properties were supposed to help address the housing crisis and provide some of the 'missing middle' needed. Mark McAllister reports.

[@suiteadditions]

It will take time. As a designer in this space, here are a few recommendations: 1. Allow garden suites to be 2 units. Construction costs are high so rental numbers need to make sense. 2. City should have a handful of pre-approved plans for certain sites. 3. Eliminate educations levies as per TCDSB bylaw. Every dollar helps homeowners.

[@davidgordon5336]

It’s brutal to get approved. Which is partially due to excessive safety regulations. The cost is crazy.

[@Ar-ob1gz]

They arent brutal to get approved if you build as of right.

[@andrewmccoll1582]

It's hard to believe that just 30 years ago there was an emphasis on quality of life instead of just $/sq ft.

[@newwavebrazil]

Seeing leftists try to tackle this issue while ignoring the only possible solution (slowing immigration) is hilarious. 😂 . You guys got a whole 6 units built, keep it up!

[@JonniMartinez]

the issue is the cost of building those units are over $50,000+ and homeowners just don't have the money to spend on that, including my own family which is looking to turn our garage into a laneway house

[@12sin8]

I think you're missing a 0 there... it's more like $500,000!

[@flavioborrovic8619]

Thinking doing that, until find out that is so expensive, so better buy a house or condo for the investment

[@peej91]

Favelas here we come !

[@bryankerr9174]

You do realize that you are asking people in a large city to give up their backyards willing, right?

[@mikec3971]

There’s a website that provides a ton of info about building and owning garden suites. It boasts that they can generate $4500 month in rent…to live in a shed, in somebody’s backyard. And so this is the solution to the affordable housing crisis. 😂

[@tariqs2072]

i wonder if the fact that the cost is as much as another home up north has anything to do with it hmm

[@nitouryuus]

lol you need a garden first

[@MsMarmima]

They need to pre approve set designs

[@akunamatata7807]

Loosen strangle hold by bad tenant or else we are not going to waste our hundreds of thousands to create housings on your behalf. The spend should go spends its own 100s aof thousands if they want to label landlards as bad people. Go nut raise taxes to create housing on your own.

[@stephenwinter8892]

Lane way homes aren't possible for everyone in every city I'm living in Oakville so it's unfortunate

[@WilliamSchober-l8g]

Can thank the mayor’s office and Olivia Chow plays a very important role still. They did leave her with a job to do? Also Christina Freeland and The prime minister were able to help with more support from the federal government. Still to many people are on the edge of being unable to afford paying the rent on rental properties? More like investment properties don’t you think.!!!!’nnnn😢

[@Thejzzman4]

You're blaming Olivia... she hasn't been in power long... use logic and blame the provincial Conservatives and our previous mayor.

[@annetoronto5474]

Toronto is not worth investing in, too risky, especially for landlords. I wouldn’t sink money into Toronto, it’s not what it used to be, too much crime.

[@MR007-r3f]

Ghetto suite..

[@Abdul-nk4dy]

Disaster

[@bubblegum8630]

3rd

[@frankieb8591]

Nobody cares about anything

[@Afton.uchiha.thegoat]

First