Toronto to infuse some life into highrise condo for families

The writing is on the wall, condo dwellings will go up into the sky and the square footage will shrink along the way …

In the beginning, it was about 1,500sf for a standard 2-bedroom condo, the standard square footage was quickly reduced to about 1,000sf few years later.

Today, we are talking about 500sf-700sf for a family condo in Toronto (even smaller in Vancouver). And in reality, many new development are actually building 300sf-400sf suites.

Highrise Condo – Bird’s-eye view of Highrise Utopia
Image Source

It does look like some of the pictures depicted herein may very well be portraits of our typical family dwellings in the near future …

Growing upwards: Why Toronto wants to make high-rises family-friendly

CBC.ca – ‎Jul 23, 2016
John Preece and Amelia Bowler are among the one-third of Toronto parents raising young children in a condo or apartment. And they also represent a portrait of the future as the city prepares to, quite literally, look skywards when it comes to urban growth.

City of Toronto launched the study Growing Up this spring to hear from families about their needs when living in high- and mid-rise buildings.

The results of that study will help shape Toronto’s policies around density …

Micro Condo
Image Source

Medically, some call such phenomenon “Forever Appreciating Property Syndrome (FAPS)”, which some people see as “manipulation by irresponsible capitalists”?

It appears folks have given up hope but have embraced the FAPS en-masses.Like the classic idiom goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them” … “Small Is Beautiful”: –

Kelowna sees ‘overwhelming’ demand for microsuites

CBC.ca -Jun 7, 2016

That small solution could be micro-suites. … who want affordable housing· Micro–condos promoted as ‘affordable luxury’ real estate in Surrey.
Here is an interesting extract from Bytes Daily: –

Gratitude Week: Don’t Fence Me In

Remember some of the film cities from sci fi films?…
Star Wars
Fifth Element
Blade Runner
Judge Dredd
Metropolis
Those depictions are tame compared to some real urban environments.
 
Apartments in Hong Kong, photography by German photographer Michael Wolf:
The apartments in areas of Hong Kong such as Kowloon are tiny, with people often living in one overcrowded room. The disparity between the wealthy and the poor in Hong Kong is one of the world’s greatest. Some aerial views of what it’s like living in tiny one room cubicles. . .
In Japan, micro apartments have been in use for years. Nagakin Capsule Tower, completed in 1972, was the world’s first example of capsule architecture. It remains in use, although in disrepair, with people living in tiny self contained capsules:
Cubicles are filled on the ground, then lifted into place.
Some experts have predicted that capsule living will be the residences of the future.

What living in Tents or Mobile Homes? Why don’t you consider living in Capsule for a change? Sorry, I am assuming you do have a choice, many folks in Canadian major cities … simply don’t have a choice.

A few more shots from the Highrise Utopia collections by Michael Wolf: –








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Camping Out For Shelter & Condo

Image
Previously, Renters driven to tents, rental bidding wars, and more affordability issues . More affordability stories … Forced to camp for shelter Castanet.net – Jul 9, 2016 Kelowna has a notoriously low rental  vacancy rate, as low as 0.5 per cent according to some, which makes it difficult for those looking to rent something affordable. Homeless camps in Abbotsford Image Source Potential condo buyers camp out — in Abbotsford? CBC.ca – Jul 9, 2016 Given Metro Vancouver’s red-hot housing market, the sight of anxious buyers camped out in front of a condo development isn’t considered all that unusual … About 20 prospective buyers are lined up for Fraser Valley condos; some have waited close to 2 weeks.
Read more

Vancouver - The Darling of Canada Real Estate

Image
Vancouver, Vancouver, Vancouver. I always wonder why do foreign investors, particularly those from China are so obsessed with this city … Fengshui? Image Source Foreign investment has impact on Vancouver housing market, say researchers
Read more

Detached Homes Stay Single & Condo Continues To Breed Like Rabbits

Image
Winter’s chill can’t freeze condo boom A new reading Monday on the strength of the condo market, particularly in Central and Eastern Canada, raised eyebrows among economists. GTA home prices tell tale of 2 cities: condos vs. family homes Different market segments moving in different directions Real estate in the Greater Toronto Area is becoming increasingly divided between existing single family homes and a crush of new condo towers, one of Canada’s biggest banks says in a report issued Monday. TD Bank economists Derek Burleton and Diana Petramala said people’s obsession with house prices in the Toronto area has obscured the differences between various subsections of the market: the 905 area versus the 416; detached houses versus condos; and new builds versus existing homes. Real estate in the Greater Toronto Area is becoming increasingly divided between existing single family homes and a crush of new condo towers, one of Canada’s biggest banks says in a report issued Monday. TD Bank
Read more

Average Detached Home Price In Toronto Is Now $ Multimillion

Image
To be exact, In Toronto’s housing market, ‘$2-million is the new $1-million’ The strength of the $2-million-plus market comes as Toronto home prices continue to soar. TREB said Wednesday the average sale price of a home across the Greater Toronto Area reached $585,204 in May, an 8.5% increase from a year ago. Image Source The strength of the $2-million-plus market comes as Toronto home prices continue to soar. TREB said Wednesday the average sale price of a home across the Greater Toronto Area reached $585,204 in May, an 8.5% increase from a year ago. Torontonians who can barely wrap their minds around a housing market where $1-million is the average price for a detached home might want to take notice of a new fast-approaching benchmark. Sotheby’s offers private jet, helicopter service to woo luxury homebuyers to Calgary Bank of CanadaProspective clients will be flown to Calgary by private jet from practically anywhere in the world and then taken on helicopter tour of multi-million-dol
Read more

Why London Inferno will happen in Toronto - Part 2

Image
Credit When it comes to fire prevention, media in Canada basically take comments by local experts at face value ie. because we have Building Code in place, catastophe similar to Grenfell Tower a.k.a the London Inferno has no chance to take place. TRUE or FALSE? First, let’s take a look at what the media say, London’s fire symptomatic of larger safety issues globally, experts warn “One of the reasons is the technology that is now being used in building materials and building fabrics has outstripped the codes and standards in practice…  CTV News London fire: Cladding blamed for inferno’s rapid spread restricted in Canada All exterior cladding materials for buildings higher than four storeys must be tested for fire resistance and comply with strict standards… Globalnews.ca Lessons of the Grenfell blaze: How can Canada’s thousands of aging towers be kept safe? “This requires a careful review of building codes , of approved materials,” said Graeme Stewart of ERA Architects, a specialist
Read more

Canada Real Estate Is Still Very Rosy

Image
Canadians richer than ever, and cutting back on mortgage debt Debt growth eases Canadians are getting the message on their ugly debt levels, at the same time as their wealth increases. Mortgage debt growth slowed: Statistics Canada Mortgage debt in Canada rose just 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of the year, to $1.1-trillion, marking the slowest pace since the depths of the financial crisis in early 2009, Statistics Canada said. Canadians’ household debt ratio drops asmortgage borrowing slows to 5-year low … More   http://www.theglobeandmail.com Still, we are confused … Reading Toronto’s real estate market is no easy task Last week the Canadian Real Estate Association reported that sales across the country rose 5.9 per cent in May compared with April. More   http://www.theglobeandmail.com Mirror, mirror on the wall … What’s happening ? The Magic Mirror says why don’t you buy this baby … ? 271 Chaplin Crescent – FOREST HILL This is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house on a 35 x 106 foot lot
Read more

The Real Estate Dilemma: Foreign Speculations, Backlash, and Alternatives

Image
The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) latest report warns of “problematic conditions” in the country’s largest housing markets. “In Toronto and Vancouver, this is due to the combination of price acceleration and overvaluation.” In an attempt to cool the most controversial housing markets – Vancouver, whereby average home prices has shot up more than 36% in just the last 12 months alone, the province of British Columbia is attempting to pump the brakes on foreign ownership, long suspected of driving up prices in Canada’s hottest housing market, by imposing a 15 per cent tax on foreign nationals buying property in Metro Vancouver. Twitter The situation is not only alarming, it is actually becoming a social political hot button. Some folks regard the foreign money as “imported housing virus” … the cause of the house prices insanity. This is further confirmed by today’s Bloomberg report: –
Read more

Is replacing OMB with Local Planning Appeal Tribunal a Boon or Bane?

Image
By Corruption Victim of City of Toronto It’s official: Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), the independent tribunal that adjudicates planning and development disputes will be scrapped and to be replaced by Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, starting with the City of Toronto. Under the new process, the tribunal will decide if a municipality has followed its official plans in the disputed decision. If it has failed to do so, the issue will be sent back to the municipality for reconsideration. Only if the municipality fails to come to a decision or fails to follow the planning process a second time would a full hearing be held, with the tribunal making a final decision. In another word, the City of Toronto will have the final say over most of the cases as it will be almost impossible for the public to appeal against any planning decision of the municipality. Reason? Urban planning is a very subjective area. Unless challenged by another planner of equal standing, view of a planner will be construe
Read more

Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary Are The Best Cities To Invest In Real Estate

Image
Today everyone in the realty business is citing this particular story by HuffPost: – Best Cities To Invest In Real Estate? Those Would Be Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary Image Source The Huffington Post Canada Canadian cities top the world for the real estate markets that make the best bet for long-term investment, according to a study from U.K. property developer Grosvenor — but they may not be such a great investment in the short term. Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary took the top three spots, respectively, on the survey that aims to measure which real estate markets are the most resilient, and therefore make the best long-term investment. “Canada, as a whole, is doing exceptionally well in developing resiliency,” Richard Barkham, group research director at Grosvenor, said in a statement. “The top three most-resilient cities in Grosvenor’s Resiliency index are Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. For investors in property and real estate, it makes Canada a very sound long-term investment.” Bark
Read more

How to improve your home's value

Image
By Handy Joe Did you know, patios can increase your home’s value by 10 percent or so? Now that it’s summer, you’re busy making plans for vacations and backyard barbecues. While you’re at it, you might want to also consider remodeling projects that will increase your home’s value. Investing a little time and money in your residence now can seriously pay off if you decide to put it on the market down the road. Improving your home is an investment, and not knowing where to spend your money for the best value is a common issue for many homeowners. It’s important to consider your needs in the present and plan for the future, as in, how will this improvement pay off in the end? Knowing how to invest your money into your home is a valuable lesson—literally. Outdoor Living After the brutal winter, you’ll surely want to spend as much time outdoors as you can. If you enjoy being outside but you don’t feel like you have a place to do so, consider upgrading your outdoor space with a deck or sunroo
Read more