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Housing
I firmly believe that the housing crisis is the underlying cause of many of the Western world's most significant social and political issues. The lack of housing for young people has created a sense of hopelessness, which contributes to increasing mental health issues, higher social tension and rising crime rates. Solving the housing crisis, we will give people a chance to build a life. Without a home, there is no permanency, no stability, no future.
Development
When I first moved back to Toronto, I purchased a small 500 sq ft single-family home. Following an accident at the property, a few months after purchase, there was an opportunity to redevelop to increase densification. Given my legal background, I decided to conduct research on the City of Toronto bylaws, the Ontario Building Code, the Ontario Land Tribunal, and other relevant sources. After learning the process of developing land in Toronto, I decided to turn the home into a 10-unit apartment building. Today, after 12 months of work, we have rezoned the property following a successful motion to the Ontario Land Tribunal and have plans to build a 10-unit building with six family-sized units, all larger than the original single-family home.
In addition to my own project, I have also advised others looking to increase the density on their properties by converting single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes into 5-10 unit houseplexes or apartment buildings. My goal is to help create as many new housing units as possible in the City of Toronto so that everyone can have a safe, affordable and comfortable place to live.
Advocacy
In addition to undertaking and supporting developments, I am also publicly advocating for policy changes that will make housing more affordable in Toronto. I have written op-eds on housing policy and am working on releasing a guide to building 5-10 unit buildings in partnership with More Neighbours Toronto to support increased densification.
Finally, I am launching a newsletter: Building the Missing Middle, where I share my own experience as well as my insights into housing policy and initiatives in Toronto. If you want to learn how you can help be part of the solution to the housing crisis, either as a developer or an advocate, I highly recommend subscribing to the newsletter.
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