Building affordable and sustainable cities

For more than 80 years, the West End Home Builders’ Association has been advocating on behalf of both the homebuilding industry and homebuyers. The use of land and design of our urban environment has gradually changed and evolved to address socioeconomic and environmental impacts, as well as to adapt to the needs and lifestyles of the people living in it. Through all these years, WEHBA has been actively supporting proactive urban planning and forwarding-thinking city management.

Vibrant, complete communities

Working towards positive reform to urban policies allows for more sustainable and affordable urban living that results in vibrant, complete communities. These progressive urban living practices and initiatives include an increase in infill and mixed-use development, more public transit options, bike-friendly infrastructure and more compact communities. They not only help build healthier lifestyles, but also significantly decrease the costs of owning and sustaining a home in the city. The housing crisis our province has been facing over the past few years has been calling for immediate solutions that facilitate and support new home construction of all types in communities across Ontario.

Mandated parking reform is a great example of more sustainable urban planning. For years it has been one of WEHBA’s greatest advocacy focuses with municipal government. WEHBA has been proposing to remove parking requirements in many areas of Hamilton and reductions citywide to facilitate more housing options for people that don’t need a car. Through WEHBA’s advocacy efforts, the City of Hamilton is now proceeding with parking minimum reform and public engagement. This significant improvement to public policy wouldn’t be possible without the work and support of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) students who performed an extensive study on the benefits, feasibility,and possible implementation of parking minimum reform in both Hamilton and Burlington.

Reforms of policies

Another example of WEHBA’s advocacy work is the maintaining and enhancing of City of Hamilton’s Brownfield Remediation Program ERASE. The ERASE program provides tax grants towards remediation of contaminated brownfield sites to support their redevelopment and reuse. Initially, there were concerns the program would be cut, but after WEHBA’s robust involvement in the City process, sharing it’s importance to our members and the whole of Hamilton’s community, the exact opposite was implemented. This program helps new home developers remediate contaminated land at more attainable costs for consumers.

WEHBA has been advocating for housing affordability and choice by supporting regulations that facilitate new home construction of all types, and by proposing reforms of policies that keep our cities stagnant. By encouraging planned and responsible growth, we aim to help balance economic development and population growth at a time when housing affordability and availability is at an all-time low. WEHBA continually advocates for a holistic and integrated approach to city building, involving collaboration among all levels of government, private sectors, non-governmental organizations and local communities. While no city is entirely without challenges, the gradual incorporation of innovative strategies and approaches, can create more livable, resilient and inclusive cities for current and future generations.