Toronto Condo and Real Estate Blog

New Urbanism is a new take on old ideals promises safe, neighbourly communities

By J. Lynn Fraser - New Dream Homes and Condos Magazine

Homeowners want more than an address when they buy a new home. They want a sense of community. New Urbanism is a design style for both homes and neighbourhoods that promises safe, neighbourly communities.

Considered a holistic approach to community design, New Urbanism is supposed to reduce the gap between where the homeowner lives, works and shops by cutting down on the amount of driving needed. Designers of New Urbanist communities take into consideration the sharing of amenities, the street and public spaces in their design.

New Urbanism is a reaction to the sprawling housing developments that dotted North American urban centres after the Second World War. Neighbourhoods in the New Urbanism style tend to be suburban with a distinct centre and borders. According to the Centre for New Urbanism, the optimal size of a neighbourhood is one-quarter mile from that centre to the border. Ideally, the neighbourhood’s centre is a public space like a square, a green space or a main intersection.

These communities are found in 20 countries worldwide, such as the Philippines, the United States and Finland.

Prof. Robert Levit, director of the University of Toronto’s Master of Urban Design program, describes New Urbanism communities as being “mixed use: apartments, houses and semi-row houses.” This neighbourhood design focuses on how these types of dwellings “relate to the street and public spaces,” Levit comments. He adds that this type of design is a reaction to how homes in subdivisions are disconnected from each other.

Individual houses are often “neo-traditionalist” by echoing late 19th and early 20th century design with front porches, pitched roofs, side entrances and garages opening onto back laneways. This design is meant to de-emphasize the dominance of garages facing streets. Neighbourliness, as well as safety, is supposed to be encouraged by New Urbanism communities.

Dr. Paul Hess, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Geography and Planning Department, is studying three New Urbanism communities in Toronto and Oakville, one of which is one hundred years old and the other two developed in the last decade. Hess is unable to say if these communities are more neighbourly or if car use was reduced. In fact, the community at Woodbine Avenue and Queen Street in Toronto is “still strongly car-based,” despite being so close to Toronto’s downtown.

Hess says that the New Urbanism homes’ design does show some evidence of lane parties and “kids playing there.” But Hess also finds a mixed response to the laneways. They were not, however, seen as a security problem. In the Woodbine community, for example, Hess finds that despite the fact that driving has not been reduced and increased neighbourliness and security is unclear, the neighbourhood is well liked by the homeowners. In fact, the value of the homes has increased.

One of the key factors in New Urbanism homes may be the commitment of the homeowners to a certain set of values, not just the homes’ and community’s design. New Urbanism demonstrates the desire of homeowners to be more connected to each other. They want to live in a community where people, not cars and garages, are most important.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

The Canadian Real Estate Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice has been the measure of professionalism in organized real estate for over 40 years. The first code was approved in 1913 at the convention of the National Association of Real Estate Boards held in Winnipeg. The first Code of Ethics specifically prepared for members of The Canadian Real Estate Association was approved by members in 1959.

The Code establishes a standard of conduct, which in many respects exceeds basic legal requirements. This standard ensures that that the rights and interests of consumers of real estate services are protected. As a condition of membership, all real estate agents agree to abide by the Code.

Some of the requirements of the Code include:

1. Real estate agents must disclose in writing whom they are representing as an agent in the transaction. Parties to a transaction must be told what their agency relationship is to the real estate agent.

2. Definitions, terminology and presumed agency relationships vary from province to province. Most jurisdictions have their own forms for complying with disclosure requirements, which have been drafted to accommodate agency relationships as they exist in your province or territory.

3. All financial arrangements between real estate agents and others (e.g. referral fees, compensation from more than one party, rebates or profits on expenditures) must be fully disclosed to clients.

4. Real estate agents cannot acquire an interest in property (either directly or indirectly) without disclosing the fact that they are real estate professionals.

5. Real estate agents cannot use the terms of an agreement of purchase and sale to negotiate commission.

While the Code of Ethics establishes obligations that may be higher than those mandated by law, in any instance where the Code of Ethics and the law conflict, the obligations of the law must take precedence.

A real estate agent’s ethical obligations are based on moral integrity, competent service to clients and customers, and dedication to the interest and welfare of the public. The Code has been amended many times to reflect changes in the real estate marketplace, the needs of property owners and the perceptions and values of society. For more than forty years, through a variety of updates, the Canadian Real Estate Association Code of Ethics is unchanged in demanding high standards of professional conduct to protect the interests of clients and customers and safeguard the rights of consumers of real estate services.

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From Tridel

Your new Tridel condo comes with an extensive warranty program and is guaranteed by Tarion (formerly ONHWP - Ontario New Home Warranty Program), a private corporation that protects the statutory warranty rights of new home buyers under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act. Every new home and condo built in Ontario is designed to meet or surpass both the structural requirements and the health and safety standards of the Ontario Building Code.

Tarion is a government regulated organization which regulates and licenses all builders and vendors of new homes in Ontario, and provides the following safeguards and benefits to all new home and condo purchasers.

1. Deposit protection of up to a maximum of $20,000
2. A one-year all purpose warranty against defects in workmanship and materials
3. A two-year “power train” warranty against defects regarding the electrical, plumbing and heating delivery/distribution systems, as well as violations of the Ontario Building Code’s health and safety provisions
4. In addition to providing warranty coverage for the individual unit, (up to a maximum of $150,000), Tarion provides warranty coverage for the common elements of the condominium, (up to a maximum of $2.5 million)
5. Protection against major structural defects (for 7 years)
6. Protection against substitutions of key elements in a new home made without the purchaser’s approval, in those cases where the agreement of purchase and sale expressly allows the purchaser to make choices regarding such elements
7. Compensation and protection to purchasers for delayed closings

All builders are required to deliver the most current version of the Homeowner Information Package published by the Tarion Warranty corporation. This package explains how the new home warranty process works including how to submit a claim to Tarion and outlining the time lines to respond to complaints. To download a copy of the Homeowner Information Package in PDF format, please visit the Tarion web site.

The warranty coverage begins from the date of occupancy (not move-in, if they are different) and remains in effect from that date, even if the unit is sold. It is important that you understand the difference between warranty items (which are covered by us) and maintenance items, which are the responsibility of the homeowner.

Suite coverage is divided into one, two and seven year protection against defects in work and materials. More details about this coverage are outlined below:

One-Year Warranty Protection

The builder warrants that the home is free from defects in work and materials, is fit to live in and meets the Ontario Building Code requirements. It essentially covers all noted building deficiencies listed in the CCP (Certificate of Completion and Possession) and otherwise brought to Tarion’s attention in writing before the end of the 1st year. If Tarion does not receive notice in writing within the 1-year warranty period, then the claim may not be allowed.

Note: Purchasers may claim from Tarion within the 1 year period for items not completed by the builder on the home/condo, for up to a maximum of 2% of the purchase price of the home, or $5,000.00, whichever is greater.

Two-Year Warranty Protection

The builder warrants for 2 years that there is no:
* Water seepage in the basement or foundation walls. (In condominiums, this protection includes all below ground areas such as parking garages)
* Defects in materials and work including caulking, windows and doors ensuring that the building envelope prevents water penetration
* Defects in material and work in the electrical, plumbing and heating delivery and distribution systems
* Defects in materials and work which result in the detachment, displacement or deterioration of exterior cladding, leading to detachment or serious deterioration
* Violations of the Ontario Building Code’s health and safety provisions

Seven-Year Warranty Protection

The builder warrants for 7 years that there are no major structural defects, which are defined as any defect in material or work that results in the failure of a load-bearing part of the home’s structure, or any defect in material or work that significantly and adversely affects the purchaser’s home.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information