Is Inclusionary Zoning a Needed Tool for Providing Affordable Housing in the Greater Golden Horseshoe?

About the Seminar:

This seminar is centred around the forthcoming CUR report, "Is Inclusionary Zoning a Needed Tool for Providing Affordable Housing in the Greater Golden Horseshoe?" co-authored by CUR Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Frank Clayton and CUR researcher, Geoff Schwartz. Highlights of this report will be presented by Geoff Schwartz. Following the presentation, there will be an expert panel discussion and audience questions.

About the Report:

There is growing recognition that rental and ownership housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, allowing municipalities to implement inclusionary zoning is being considered by the province as a new tool to help expand the supply of affordable housing. The Clayton/Schwartz study explores the different iterations of inclusionary zoning in use across North America and examines what is meant by affordable housing. It then considers the track record of inclusionary zoning in providing affordable housing and the impacts of this tool on market housing availability and prices. It further explores whether municipalities need a new tool like inclusionary zoning or already have access to an array of tools to provide more affordable housing, in particular it looks at the relationship between inclusionary zoning and Section 37 of the Planning Act.

Moderator:

David Amborski
Director
Centre for Urban Research and Land Development, Ryerson University

Speaker:

Geoff Schwartz
Researcher
Centre for Urban Research and Land Development, Ryerson University
Co-author of CUR report, "Is Inclusionary Zoning a Needed Tool for Providing Affordable Housing in the Greater Golden Horseshoe?"

Panelists:

Richard Drdla
President
Richard Drdla Associates, Toronto, ON
Mr. Drdla's presentation will address Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) in Canada. Further, his presentation will include a review of the current bills before the house and an examination of what the province must do before IZ can be implemented. Mr. Drdla is the author of a 2010 study for the Acorn Institute of Canada entitled, "A Guide to Developing an Inclusionary Housing Program."

Patrick Maier
Executive Director
Innovative Housing Insitute (IHI), Baltimore, MD
Mr. Maier will provide insight into the American experience and perspectives of Inclusionary Zoning. In his role as the Executive Director of Innovative Housing Institute (IHI), Mr. Maier provides consulting assistance to communities and governments considering inclusionary policies, prepares housing need studies, and guides the development of housing strategies.

John Brodhead
Housing Action Lab and
Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Premier of Ontario
Mr. Brodhead is the Executive Director of CityWorks, a strategic initiative of Evergreen in Toronto. Prior to joining CityWorks, John was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Cabinet Affairs for Premier Dalton McGuinty and served in other roles in the Office of the Premier, including Executive Director of Communications and Senior Policy Advisory.

Please contact Laura Greflund if you require any accommodations to ensure your inclusion at this event.

Laura Greflund
Phone: 416-979-5000 ext. 3348
Email: cur@ryerson.ca
www.ryerson.ca/cur

Parking is available at 300 Victoria Street. A map of Ryerson University is available here.