Geoff Kettel, co-chair of the Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations (FONTRA) has distributed a video and other data in advance of a City Council meeting on February 2 to address the introduction into Toronto of so-called Garden Suites. These are homes built in the backyards of single-family homes in neighbourhoods that would otherwise be protected from such profound changes. As ever, there is a good cause put forward for this apparent revolution in how people have lived in the City for centuries. It’s all about affordable housing. Research by the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association found these startling issues raised in Barrie when that City adopted Garden Suites in 2019 without much forethought.
Highlights from the Barrie experience with Garden Suites
Houses in backyards were approved in Barrie in November 2019 in response to Bill 108, More Homes, More Choices Act with a stated goal to create more affordable homes. The issues that arose are stunning and easily understood but nonetheless caught all of Barrie by surprise.
No one in Barrie really understood the impact it would have and the implications of what had been approved until the excavators showed up and started digging
Information was not available other than going through Freedom of Information. Homeowners were caught without notice when Garden Suites were built next door.
The character of the neighbourhood was changed because of significant tree loss. Trees on adjacent properties have to be removed by the neighbours at costs totalling thousands.
Investors began to dramatically outbid families wanting to buy a home
Neighbourhoods began shifting from owner-occupied to investor-owned
Investors rented as many as three units on a property where there was only a single-family home before
Affordable homeownership and affordable rentals were the objectives but not the result.
Long-time renters were evicted to facilitate renovations. They could not afford the increased rent in the new builds. Investor activity drove rental prices up dramatically
The City of Barrie found that affordability for rental units had declined significantly over a short time:
In 2017, 90% of rental units were affordable
In 2020, only 25% of rental units were affordable
