Quote:
Originally Posted by Crawford
One thing that's odd about the GTA is that the fancy areas often have the least construction, and the less desirable areas often have the most "luxury condos". Probably trans-national differences in zoning and regulatory framework.
For example, Yonge north of the 401 is kinda dumpy. But there's an orgy of gigantic towers everywhere, topped only by downtown Toronto. And most look pretty expensive and upscale. Yonge south of the 401 is very affluent, but looks basically the same as 25 years ago, when I was visiting nearby relatives as a kid. There are numerous SFH teardowns, but the essential character is the same. North York looks like some alien spacecraft touched down.
If Toronto were in the U.S., Yonge north of the 401 would still be dumpy strip malls and worn bungalows, and any construction would be concentrated to the south. Toronto's growth is much more efficient, but it's hard to understand.
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It's not hard to understand, it's all down to zoning. North York City Centre is zones for high density and the area south to North Toronto is not.
The affluent areas have the strongest Nimbies so nothing gets built in those areas and vice versa.
Zoning was created a hundred years ago for this exact reason so rich people could tell everyone else what they can and can't build.