Mayoral Candidate Brad Bradford on Friday announced his latest plan to create more homes in the city of Toronto and adapt to the changing climate of hybrid working. The candidate announced a plan to convert empty offices into homes for local residents.
“With a 15.3% office vacancy rate in Downtown Toronto and nearly 6 million square feet of new office space in the development pipeline, maintaining the vibrancy of our urban centres requires a new approach that better responds to the realities of new ways of working. Something has to change,” said Brad Bradford.
“If we want a vibrant city that attracts and retains the best and brightest, we need to ensure there is housing available at every price point and make the most of the space in our city.”
Adding to his housing plan of increasing housing supply and streamlining approvals, Brad announced that as Mayor he would introduce a new zoning framework for office to residential conversions.
Did you know that 15% of office space downtown is sitting empty? All while people are fighting tooth-and-nail to afford a home.
That’s why today I announced that as Mayor, I will reduce red tape and make it easier to convert unneeded office space into desperately-needed… pic.twitter.com/FNNPesjsZr
— Brad Bradford✌️ (@BradMBradford) May 19, 2023
Converting Empty Offices to Homes For People
To make it easier to convert empty offices into new homes, Brad Bradford says he would:
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Provide as-of-right approvals for office conversions if the building isn’t getting bigger, thereby eliminating the lengthy rezoning process.
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Ensure relief from guidelines and other rules that make it difficult to convert office floor plates into housing.
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Eliminate the requirement to replace all office space foot-for-foot as long as new development includes 20% affordable housing.
Making it easier for entrepreneurs to live and work in Toronto
“City Hall should be encouraging innovation and new business creation, not putting up roadblocks. As Mayor, I would allow live-work units to be permitted on all our Main Streets and allow for a greater range of businesses to operate as live-work units so that artists and entrepreneurs are provided with greater opportunities to both live and work here in Toronto” said Bradford.
Brad Bradford has experience as an urban planner for the City of Toronto. He is a City Councillor and Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee.
Toronto’s Mayoral By-Election is taking place on June 26th. There are currently 103 candidates running for the city’s top job.
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