I'm not actually certain that the issue is a simple as a lot would want to make it. The recommendations are more aspirations than actions.
Quote:
Recommendation 1: Make it easier to build housing across the city.
Recommendation 2: Make more land available to build more housing across the city.
Recommendation 3: Ensure that the supply of affordable housing meets the needs of Indigenous people living in Calgary and Equity-Deserving populations.
Recommendation 4: Convene the housing sector to facilitate greater collaboration.
Recommendation 5: Increase the investment to support housing providers.
Recommendation 6: Ensure more individuals have a safe place to call home.
|
I think it's pretty legitimate to ask, how are you going to make it easier to build houses?
I'd say at the mid to high end Calgary does not have a huge affordability problem.
We saw 15 years of pricing stagnation leading into covid, followed by what would be a reasonable amount of inflation on housing if spread over those 15 years, all at once. And as per the housing bubble thread, I think there is as much risk of a drop or another 15 years of stagnation, as there is risk of Vancouver/Toronto runaway inflation.
Where we have real problem is the low end housing, and it's not like condos are seeing massive price increases the houses did the past 2 years. the problem just is, there aren't good condo options in good places in Calgary with a good resale market, the housing is approaching affordable, it just doesn't exist.
I think they have a really challenging task here, where they need to develop a robust market for 900-1000 sqft 3 bedroom condos @ $250K-$350K along transit corridors. But their isn't demand yet, because development of 1500-2000 sqft houses at $450K-$600k on the outskirts hasn't stopped yet. But if they stop building on the outskirts, either prices start to go up or they just give the tax base away to Rockyview county, and on paper the problem starts to look worse for the first few years.