LRT Stage 3

[OTSkyline]

I think one of the big reasons for Sprawl is due to the price discrepancy between a 2 or 3 bed unit condo in central parts of the city with 2 or 3 bed SFH or townhomes on the edge. If 20 people buy single family homes in Orleans which requires building, paving and the maintenance of a new street, extending sewers and power and water, etc.. then those costs should be covered or in the costs of those units (and passed onto buyers).

I think builders are not being held responsible for all these extra costs of sprawl (perhaps because the city is not imposing them or something) and they simply buy cheap(er) land and buyers get cheap prices. Someone living in the core would cost the city much less in terms of infrastructure and maintenance.. this should be reflected in real estate prices. But instead of selling $350,000 2-bed condos in central Ottawa and $550,000 2 or 3 bed homes in Orleans, the exact opposite is happening.. We want to encourage densification but we prevent many from doing so given the current financial model.

People can "want" what they want but there are ways the city can play with measures to discourage different behaviours.