Tools

Large: Master Plan

Dutch Urban Design – What Can Canadian Cities adopt?

When it comes to urban design, the Dutch seem to get it right. What can North American cities learn from the Netherlands? In this webinar, we will discuss some of the elements that make Dutch cities so successful. We will cover the principles to create livable and dense city centers, think about the implications of the Corona crisis, and discuss what Canadian cities can use.

Why is it unaffordable to build affordable housing?

Guest Speaker: Nancy Singer, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Kehilla

Main points:

What incentives can you get for building it?
What’s the Process?
Proforma Review
What needs to change to make it work?
Why do developers need to partner and include non – profits?
How do we make it all work?

Zero Emissions Targets - Market Transition

Guest Speaker: David MacMillan, Program Manager, Public Energy Initiatives – New Development, Environment & Energy Division, City of Toronto

Main points:

The Toronto Green Standard (TGS) as a key driver of zero-emissions development
Analysis of the TGS capital cost premium for zero-emissions multi-unit residential buildings
Business models and City of Toronto incentives that can help make the business case work

Family Friendly Condos: A Pipe Dream or a Missed Opportunity?

Moderator: Pauline Lierman, Director of Market Research at Urbanation Inc.

Panelists: Sasha Cucuz, CEO at Greybrook Securities and Partner at Greybrook Capital, and Naama Blonder, Architect and Urban Planner, Smart Density

Panelists debated whether Toronto’s market can or cannot support the construction of well-designed condos for families.

Main points:

Why are developers opposed to building family-friendly condos?
How can families address their housing needs?
If demand exists, why isn’t it being met?
Are current regulatory barriers too hard to overcome?

Bill 108 + Bill 197: Community Benefits, Development Charges and Parkland Dedication

Guest Speaker: Rebecca Hines, Aird & Berlis LLP

In this presentation, Rebecca Hines, a lawyer with Aird & Berlis LLP’s Municipal and Land Use Planning Group, will provide a high-level overview of, and commentary on, the new community benefits, development charges and parkland dedication legislative framework and what these changes may mean for the development community moving forward.

Leveraging Data to Improve Toronto’s Delivery of New Affordable-Housing

This session will show how public-data is being used to track the progress on the creation new affordable-rental units on surplus City-owned lands (HOUSING NOW program), and how improved transparency and civic-innovation models can help government agencies and the development industry achieve better housing-policy outcomes for Toronto residents.

See the presentation slides here.

Passive House 101: Principles for Multi-Family Residential Buildings

70% of the world’s GHG emissions come from cities and 53% of Toronto’s emissions are from buildings. We are at a critical stage where buildings need to be part of the solution while we move towards a fully functioning green building economy. How can we create buildings that are healthier, sustainable and affordable?