There are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments raising prices, and there are neighborhoods where residents are concerned about new developments lowering home values. Toronto is currently dealing with the latter.
"A group of midtown Toronto residents has banded together to fight what it’s dubbed 'density creep,' amid a push for midrise development citywide," reports Manisha Krishnan.
The Density Creep Neighborhood Alliance mobilized against one particular townhouse development that would replace eight current units with 80 new units out of concern for their property values. One member of the group is quoted expressing concern over the $500,000 unit cost in a neighborhood of $1-2 million houses.
According to Krishnan, "Developer Trolleybus Urban Development, which needs city approval for rezoning to proceed, told the Star it is committed to having a dialogue with the community, but that its proposal 'provides much needed housing options in Sherwood Park that would otherwise be unattainable for today’s home buyer.'"
For more information on Toronto's mid-rise development policies, see an earlier article by Robert Freedman, who helped craft the city's Avenues Policy, designed to help encourage density in the form of mid-rise projects.
FULL STORY: Midtowners battle the rise of the midrise

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont