Some say the solution to housing affordability is a change in attitude
Frank Clayton, senior research fellow for the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development at Ryerson University in Toronto, says the problem isn’t exactly a shortage of available housing. The bigger issue is the type of housing Canadians want.
With fewer new families competing for homes and a carte blanche to develop in the Greenbelt — the area around Greater Toronto that the province has protected from development — Ontarians would quickly see supply catch up with demand. This would then lower house prices substantially, Clayton says. But not everyone thinks more construction of single-family homes on undeveloped land is the right solution.
This alternative housing solution is more than a decade away from being a viable option, Sarfaty says — though she adds planners are excited about and inspired by creative housing solutions. But it’s not just a matter of the environment. Sarfaty says that what allows people to buy into dense housing options are the amenities urban neighbourhoods offer: access to parks, proximity to entertainment and cultural attractions, as well as shorter commutes.“Even if I didn’t care about the environment, I would still want to live in cities,” says Sarfaty. “I get to walk down to the [Royal Ontario Museum] … when I’m in the mood to go for sushi, it’s a three minute walk.
Beyond the money aspect, the Bragoniers love watching their kids prioritize experiences like going out to dinner, travelling on a whim and taking in all a city has to offer. If their kids were coming of age in 2022, the Bragoniers agree they’d struggle with giving up those perks for the sake of buying a home.