Kelly Singh Advocates for Fourplex Housing in Mississauga Amid Housing Crisis
Kelly Singh, a 32-year-old resident of Mississauga, expresses concern about the changing landscape of her community due to Canada’s housing crisis. As housing prices in the Greater Toronto Area continue to rise, Singh has observed her friends and neighbors, who grew up in Mississauga, being forced to leave because of limited options and affordability.
Currently, purchasing a single-family home or a condo in a tower are the only viable choices for new homebuyers. However, a recent motion proposing the construction of four-unit housing, known as fourplexes, near rapid transit stops aimed to provide more options and was unfortunately voted down by the Mississauga city council.
Singh, a housing advocate associated with the group More Housing Mississauga, expressed her disappointment with the council’s decision. Despite presenting data supporting the value of fourplex housing, the council rejected the motion based on their desire for more public consultation. Both Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser expressed their disappointment as well.
In contrast, the city council of Kitchener, Ontario, not far from Toronto, requested the drafting of a bylaw to explore the construction of fourplexes on residential lots. Experts believe that fourplexes provide an innovative solution, allowing for diverse and flexible housing options. Unfortunately, fourplexes are currently illegal to build in most parts of Canada, as the ban originated in the City of Toronto in 1929.
The resistance to alternative housing developments can be attributed to the historical preference for single-family homes in the suburbs. This idealized image of homeownership with a white picket fence and backyard has been deeply ingrained in Canadian society. Yet, experts argue that cities like Montreal successfully offer more diverse housing options, such as duplexes and triplexes, contrary to the belief that raising children in multi-unit complexes is detrimental.
Aging demographics and the need for downsizing further highlight the necessity of more accommodating housing options. The current real estate market typically presents the choice between large houses or smaller condos, which does not meet the needs of many individuals. Fourplexes, on the other hand, offer the advantage of extended family living arrangements, investments, and the possibility of housing aging parents.
Furthermore, fourplexes built around transit stops contribute to increased accessibility and reduce long commutes between suburbs and city centers. The proposal in Mississauga also emphasized the importance of strategic location near transportation corridors. Experts argue that denser housing would not only benefit residents but also city budgets, as more efficient infrastructure development could be achieved.
Although Mississauga’s city council currently rejects the idea of fourplex housing, the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund intends to encourage zoning changes nationwide. Many major cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Victoria, are reconsidering their zoning laws to allow for greater housing options. Singh remains hopeful that Mississauga will follow suit and prioritize the needs of its residents.
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