\n\tPosted April 11, 2022<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tCity experts and housing advocates are applauding a move by Toronto council to change the way it manages city-owned buildings \u2014 and they’re hoping other cities and governments follow suit.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tOn Wednesday, councillors unanimously passed the next phase of the city’s plan to cut its office footprint from 55 locations to 15, a move it estimates will save more than $30 million annually. Now, the City of Toronto has the go-ahead to renovate eight of its properties in the coming years to create 500 to 600 new affordable housing units while expanding services.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tThe plan is a clever way forward and other industries should support the city in its plans, says Leslie Woo, CEO of civic engagement non-profit CivicAction, who’s also worked in urban planning in Toronto.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t“Now we need the city and all its partners to support this effort and not be throwing darts at it,” said Woo. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t“It’s a model that could work for everyone … so let’s see how we can apply it in other places.”<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tExperts and advocates like Woo say the city now has the opportunity to set a precedent for how other municipalities \u2014 even federal and provincial governments \u2014 should use their real estate portfolios as a tool to tackle the national housing crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tThe plan has its roots in 2019, when Toronto Mayor John Tory launched ModernTO to help make better use of city-owned office space. The push to have more city employees work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the effort .<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tThe eight properties proposed for renovation have an estimated land value of $450 million. The sites include: <\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tThe city is targeting the top five locations as the first properties slated for renovation, with public consultation on the Victoria Street., Bay Street. and Yonge Street community housing offices to begin this year. ModernTO’s report<\/a> says depending on the proposed site, timelines to move existing work forces to new accommodations would start in 2023 and continue until 2028. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tHousing advocates hopeful<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tHe says governments have begun to take note and follow suit with their own efforts, such as Ontario’s new Centre of Realty Excellence<\/a>, which the province announced as a way to help manage its extra properties with affordable housing and long-term care in mind. <\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t“We’ve long advocated for that kind of approach,” said Amborski.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t“We’ll be watching closely to see how things roll out.”<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\tArticle by Vanessa Balintec for CBC News<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
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