Tag Archives: municipal election
Building family-friendly condos
Creative solutions are urged to make intensification work for families
Excerpt from an article by Theresa Boyle, Real Estate Reporter, Toronto Star
Toronto’s director of urban design wants to see more family-friendly condominiums built in the city.
During the recent municipal election, candidates such as Ward 20 victor Adam Vaughan suggested too many condominiums offer small units targeted at young singles. When couples settle down and start families, they are often forced to move out to the suburbs.
It’s about creating “real communities with the highrise condominium form,” he says.
The convertible suite is one idea that’s gaining in popularity, he notes. This involves building a large three- or four-bedroom unit in a condominium in such a way that it can be divided into two units, each with separate access to the hallway.
Another idea proposed by Vaughan during the election is to “rough in” connecting doorways between small condo units, so a family can purchase two small units and turn it into a single large one.
Glenn Miller, director of education and research with the Canadian Urban Institute, says it’s necessary for condos to accommodate people through the various stages of their lives.
“I don’t think condos are not family friendly. People think you have to have a backyard to raise children. They have to get over that,” she says.
She adds there’s a parkette across the street for the children, and they love to frolic in the condo‘s amenity spaces. As well, the Toronto Reference Library is directly across the road.
A three-bedroom condo is expensive and families feel that, for the same price, they can get a house with a backyard, she says.
Freedman agrees a shift in mindset is necessary when it comes to raising children in condos.
But he says there are some features that make condos more attractive to families, such as having great playgrounds, parks, community centres, libraries and schools in the area.
But he notes developers in other cities are designing condos with those family-oriented facilities included.
“I understand in New York there are lots of condo buildings that have all kinds of amenities for kids, such as after school drop-in and homework rooms, supervised indoor and outdoor play areas, et cetera.”
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Greater Toronto REALTORS Say No to Status Quo at Toronto City Hall
With Toronto City Council expected to make important decisions on City services and finances soon, REALTORS are calling on Council to move ahead with getting the City’s finances in order and repealing the Toronto Land Transfer Tax.
“We say no to the status quo. Torontonians elected this City Council with a clear mandate to get the City’s finances in order and change the way City Hall operates, including repealing the Toronto Land Transfer Tax. The public does not expect to see Councillors’ convictions crumble when decision time approaches,” said Richard Silver, President of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB).
REALTORS are contacting City Council to tell them to move ahead with the City’s service review process and are calling on the public to also contact City Council by visiting www.NoHomeBuyingTax.com.
The public spoke loudly and clearly in last year’s municipal election. It is clear that they want change from City Hall and that they want the Toronto Land Transfer Tax gone.
“The public spoke loudly and clearly in last year’s municipal election. It is clear that they want change from City Hall and that they want the Toronto Land Transfer Tax gone. We are making sure that the public is aware that now is the time for City Council to take decisive action to improve the City’s finances,” said Silver.
A recent public opinion poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs found that 75% of Torontonians support Mayor Ford’s commitment to repeal the Toronto Land Transfer Tax. Even when asked to consider the City’s budget shortfall, the public’s support remains very strong, with 68% indicating that City Council should follow-through with the repeal of the Toronto Land Transfer Tax.
“Torontonians want the Toronto Land Transfer Tax abolished; they don’t want excuses. Unfortunately, some City Councillors are still targeting home buyers and would prefer to keep this tax. Getting the City’s finances in order requires comprehensive efforts; it can’t and shouldn’t be done by relying on the Toronto Land Transfer Tax, which unfairly targets one segment of Torontonians: homebuyers,” added Silver.
Torontonians want the Toronto Land Transfer Tax abolished; they don’t want excuses.
REALTORS are also telling City Council that the Toronto Land Transfer Tax impacts Toronto’s economy.
“The Toronto Land Transfer Tax is a job killer: economic analyses have shown that about 40,000 Toronto jobs rely specifically on the economic activity that is generated when people buy and sell homes in the City. For resale housing alone, spin-off spending related to home buying, on things like renovations and moving services, pumped $1.4 billion into Toronto’s economy last year,” said Silver.
REALTORS also believe that getting the City’s finances in order is an important step to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Toronto’s quality of life.
“Home buyers want communities with a high quality-of-life, so REALTORS understand the importance of municipal services. However, just as any household must review its budget from time-to-time, City Hall must get its finances in order,” added Silver.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information – 416−388−1960
Laurin & Natalie Jeffrey are Toronto Realtors with Century 21 Regal Realty.
They did not write these articles, they just reproduce them here for people
who are interested in Toronto real estate. They do not work for any builders.
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Dream of home ownership alive and well in Ontario
But majority of Ontarians concerned that home ownership will be more difficult in the future
The dream of home ownership is alive and well among Ontario renters, with 70% reporting that they would like to buy at some point in the future, according to a poll released by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).
However, the poll also revealed that 81% of Ontarians believe it is more difficult to own a home now than it was for their parents, and 89% of Ontarians in general are concerned that home ownership will become even more difficult in the future.
“We have an obligation to protect the affordability of home ownership for future generations,” said Barb Sukkau, President of OREA. “From its impact on job creation to the healthy and stable environment it provides for raising a family, home ownership matters to people, communities and Ontario.
Over half (54%) of renters cited affordability as a key reason for not owning a home and 70% surveyed indicated they would be more willing to consider owning if the government offered more tax breaks and incentives to offset costs for first time buyers.
“Today’s poll is compelling evidence that a majority of Ontarians are concerned about the affordability of home ownership for themselves and future generations,” said John Wright, Senior Vice President of Ipsos Reid.
Home owners also report higher levels of civic engagement. The overwhelming majority (82%) of Ontario home owners have donated to charity in the last two years; home owners are much more likely to say they voted in the last municipal election than renters; and 35% of owners say they have volunteered in their community.
“Support for home ownership means support for strong communities and a better Ontario,” said Sukkau. “We are urging all political parties in the 2011 provincial election to commit to making home ownership more affordable for Ontarians.”
OREA is proposing three policy initiatives to strengthen home ownership in Ontario:
* An improved Land Transfer Tax (LTT) Rebate for first-time home buyers. OREA estimates that an improved LTT rebate would save a first-time buyer of an average resale home almost $1,500.
* A permanent Ontario Home Renovation Tax Rebate. A renovation tax rebate would create jobs and curb the growth of the underground economy.
* Reintroduce the Ontario Home Energy Efficiency Retrofit Rebate program. Investments in home energy efficiency will help home owners cope with rising energy costs and curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Other survey highlights included:
* 94% of Ontarians think that owning a home provides a healthy and stable environment for raising a family.
* 93% of home owners want taxes on buying a home lowered.
* 95% of home owners think that the government should provide incentives to reduce their energy costs.
* 94% of homeowners believe that the government should encourage home-renovation through tax credits.
* 48% of Ontario homeowners believe that home repairs/maintenance are the hardest parts of home ownership.
The survey was conducted by Ipsos Reid for OREA’s Home Ownership Matters campaign. For more information visit www.homeownershipmatters.ca.
OREA represents 50,000 brokers and salespeople who are members of the 42 real estate boards throughout the province. Members of the association may use the “REALTOR®” trademark, which identifies them as real estate professionals who subscribe to a high standard of ethics and service.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information – 416−388−1960
Laurin & Natalie Jeffrey are Toronto Realtors with Century 21 Regal Realty.
They did not write these articles, they just reproduce them here for people
who are interested in Toronto real estate. They do not work for any builders.
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