A staff report to city council cautions that not hitting targets outlined in the city's Housing Needs Assessment could result in decreased housing affordability and increased homelessness. 

鈥淢ultiple dwelling housing is critical to addressing our housing needs,鈥� the report says. "琉璃神社鈥檚 Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) confirms that 18,750+ new housing units are needed by 2031.鈥� 

The report notes that multiple-dwelling homes typically cost 10 to 40 per cent less than comparable single-dwelling homes, and that four to six-storey wood frame apartments are faster and less expensive to build than other apartment housing.

鈥淪o, where should this housing go,鈥� the report asks. Along and near transit supportive corridors (TSC) appears to be the answer.

The reports contends that strategic investment in transit has numerous benefits including:

• Higher people-moving capacity;
• Reduced parking pressure;
• Safer streets. Increasing transit use reduces injury and death;
• Decreased transportation costs. People with good access to transit typically drive less;
• Better access for all including for people with disabilities, seniors, youth, lower-income residents, and other populations less likely to drive.

With those benefits come challenges.

鈥淎s TSC areas accommodate new housing, businesses, and transit, existing neighbourhoods will experience incremental鈥攂ut potentially significant鈥攃hange,鈥� the report points out.

An increased number of vehicles parked on the street and existing residents displaced by redevelopment are also concerns. The report notes 鈥渃hallenges must be addressed through thoughtful policies, regulations, and processes.鈥�

Staff is looking for feedback from council for a TSC Pilot Project as part of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). In 2023, the city received $31.5 million from the fund which encourages municipalities to increase the local housing supply. The city is required to permit approximately 7,000 housing units by October 2026.

The pilot project will look at which transportation options are feasible, how buildings will transition from TSCs to adjacent neighbourhoods and how a variety of buildings can be supported along TSCs.

厂迟补蹿蹿鈥檚 .