Building the housing we need…

Building the housing we need on wetlands is misguided, dare I say crazy. Wetlands are the Swiss Army knives of ecosystems, precious for so many reasons yet rapidly disappearing.

Ontario can build almost all the affordable housing it needs within current urban boundaries by building up, not out. Planners all over the world know how to do this, to create wonderful, walkable, energy-efficient communities that are not car-dependent.

Build “missing middle” medium density housing in urban spaces, integrated with retail, business offices and parks. People can walk or cycle to work, transit, shopping, school and recreational areas, all within about 15 minutes of home.

Force warehouses to build up! Why do so many Amazon centres sprawl across former farms, just one-storey high when they could be two or three storeys on a much smaller footprint? Leave wetlands alone.

There is never a need or a reason to build on wetlands. We’ve been building all wrong for 60 years. It’s time to think differently.