Experts applaud city’s move to make building them easier, but remain skeptical
The City of Toronto is hoping new measures to cut design costs and speed up permit approval times for laneway and garden suites may encourage homeowners to build more, but some advocates and experts say they’re skeptical the structures could be a viable solution to the city’s housing crunch.
Mayor Olivia Chow announced on Friday that the city will provide free design plans for laneway and garden suites to cut costs and speed up permit approval times, in its latest bid to boost construction of new housing.
The pre-approved plans are compliant with the Ontario Building Code and eliminate the need to hire an architect, she said.
“It’s simple: Toronto is growing and we must lower the cost of building homes and make it easier, and approve them faster,” Chow said at a news conference Friday.
But a limited number of properties in the city have backyards large enough to build these suites, said Stephanie Bertolo, board member of More Neighbours Toronto, a housing advocacy organization.
“Anything that helps reduce the cost of development and gets things built faster is a win,” Bertolo said.