“`json
{
“title”: “Will Ottawa’s New Housing Designs Ease GTA Supply Crunch?”,
“content”: “
The federal government is betting on a new initiative to boost housing supply across Canada, including the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has launched a Housing Design Catalogue featuring 50 technical design packages for various housing types, from accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to sixplexes and townhomes. These packages, available for free download, include architectural drawings, energy reports, and construction estimates, aiming to provide builders with a significant head start in the development process.
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The CMHC hopes that municipalities will streamline the approval process for these designs, which are described as “nearly permit-ready.” The City of Ottawa, for example, plans to launch a fast-track permitting program in 2026 to encourage the construction of “missing middle” housing, incorporating designs from the CMHC catalogue. While Toronto wasn’t specifically mentioned in the article, the estimated construction costs for the Ontario region are based on Toronto’s market. A 634 sq. foot accessory dwelling is estimated to cost between $251,000 and $314,000, while a 4,842 sq. foot sixplex is estimated to cost between $1.51 million and $1.88 million.
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However, not everyone is convinced this initiative will significantly impact the GTA’s housing affordability crisis. Professor James McKellar at the Schulich School of Business calls the designs “nice window dressing,” arguing that high construction costs, crew shortages, and expensive land prices are the real hurdles. He suggests that municipalities might still reject the designs if they don’t fit the desired lot. Scott Fash, CEO of BILD Alberta, echoes this sentiment, stating that rising input costs, not design, are driving the supply problem.
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While the Housing Design Catalogue might offer some benefits to individuals looking to build an ADU or start a small-scale development, its impact on large-scale developers in the GTA remains uncertain. These developers often have their own established designs and may be hesitant to adopt a standardized design developed in Ottawa. It remains to be seen whether this initiative will truly alleviate the GTA’s housing supply challenges, or if it’s merely a drop in the bucket compared to the larger systemic issues at play.
“,
“excerpt”: “Ottawa’s new Housing Design Catalogue aims to boost housing supply, but will it make a difference in the GTA’s affordability crisis? Experts remain skeptical.”,
“wordpress_categories”: [“Housing Trends”, “Policy & Regulations”, “Market Data”],
“wordpress_tags”: [“Toronto”, “GTA”, “housing supply”, “CMHC”, “housing affordability”, “development”]
}
“`
