durhamregion.com This Week | Thursday,February 10,2022 | 12 Durhamneedsmore housing, but local activists oppose development ADERTISEMENT For many young people, the dream of owning a home in the GTA is slipping away. A recent survey by Abacus Dat found one third of non- homeowners have given up hope of ever owning a home, and an additional 26 per cent were growing increasingly pessimistic. According to David Wilkes, president and CEO of BiLD Toronto, the issue is getting worse. "Every year, more people move to [the GTA], yet the supply of new housing has not kept up with the rise in popula- tion." saysWilkes. "Even more troubling, over the past few years, we've seen the gap widen. Not enough housing is being built in the GTA to keep up with demand, and this lack of supply is contributing to the rising prices buyers are facing throughout the industry." Confirming Mr. Wilkes' assessment, a recent report by Scotiabank declares Canada's housing stock to be the lowest in the G7 when adjusted for population, with Ontario being one of the worst provinces. For Ontario's housing stock to reach even the national average, it would need to be increased by over 650,000 units. Alongside the fact that the Ontario Government projects the province's population to double over the next 15-20 years, it is clear that it has never beenmore urgent for new housing to be built in Ontario. pervasive in Pickering, where a recent Housing Strategy Study published by the City concluded that there are key gaps in Pickering's current housing stock and that it is not addressing the needs of the fact that a separate City of Pickering study found that only the top decile of income house and only the top two deciles can afford a semi-detached house or home ownership is out of reach for approximately 80% of Pickering residents. Landowners in Northeast Pickering want to address the growing housing crisis by providing much-needed supply. However, an opposing campaign is generating the kind of resistance to the new community of Veraine, which Michael May, group manager of the Northeast Pickering Landowner's Group Inc., says will keep home prices high by obstructing the potential for new homes to be developed in time to meet the ever- claims that the development could harm the environment, but the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority has laid out a path to develop- ment in Northeast Pickering that contradicts this misin- formation. May also points to a recent BiLD report which indicates how forecasts have historically underestimated population growth and over- estimated new housing stock, further compounding the region's housing shortage. For May, responsible devel- opment is achievable. "It doesn't have to be all or noth- ing.We canbuild homespeople can afford while creating protected natural land that Veraine would provide thou- sands of new homes along with community and recreational facilities, commercial, retail and employment opportunities, as well as schools, community spaces and trails built around neighbourhoods so residents can walk to work, school or their local parks. According to the Veraine website, the community is planned to run along both sides of the 407; generally north of Highway 7 and west of Lake Ridge Road. Currently underuti- lized, the development will be a place where leading employers can set up shop to keep the next generation of talent here in Durham Region, where em- ployees of local businesses can live without a long commute, and where future generations can live. Building new communities like Veraine is a positive step, says May. "Developments like this will help stabilize the price of housing by increasing the supply of new homes, creating more jobs in our backyard and building the infrastructure we need to support our region's growth. Developing these lands responsibly will ensure local children and future generations can continue to call Pickering andDurhamRegion home." community is that landowners forward to build these new homes while enhancing the local environment. To achieve this, the landowners are working diligently with the regional, local municipal and establish a balanced approach to developing this land. "The Northeast Picker- ing Landowners Group is committed to protecting and enhancingtheenvironmentand managing stormwater to not says May. "By restoring wildlife and forested areas around the and Lynde Creek watersheds, the proposed community will improve important linkages to the broader Durham natural heritage system." Durham, and the GTA, need more housing now to protect our future, saysWilkes. "Without developments like Veraine, the housing crisis will only get worse, and our com- generations to come." and the Northeast Pickering Landowners Group hope to avoid. "Responsible devel- opment can increase the much-needed housing supply and protect and improve the local environment," he says. "Development like this is pos- sible, realistic, and urgently needed to safeguard our future prosperity." To support the development of more housing in the GTA, or for more information about Veraine, visitwww.veraine.com. This content was supplied by the advertiser. For youngpeoplehoping tobuyahome,newsupplyofhousing stock is criticallyneeded inDurhamRegion. "Landowners in Northeast Pickeringwant to address thegrowing housing crisis by providingmuch-needed supply.However,an opposing campaign is generating the kindof resistance thatwill keep homeprices high."