The Secret to Building Family-Friendly Housing in Existing Neighbourhoods

Canada needs more housing, but building in existing neighbourhoods often faces strong local opposition. Could gentle density be a solution?In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt discuss how infill housing, form-based zoning, and streamlined regulations could help Canada build more family-friendly homes while balancing concerns about neighbourhood character, infrastructure, parking, and density. They also examine multiplex debates in Toronto and Calgary, and whether zoning reform and condo rules are limiting new homeownership opportunities.Topics covered:What is gentle density?Why Canada needs more family-friendly housingThe fight over multiplexes and infill housingToronto's sixplex debateCalgary's citywide upzoning rollbackForm-based zoning explainedZoning vs. building codeHow standardized zoning could reduce red tapeParking, infrastructure, and neighbourhood concernsCreating more homeownership opportunities through gentle densityCondo regulations and small-scale housingBritish Columbia's small-scale, multi-unit housing approachWhat Oregon is doing differentlyShould gentle density start with greenfield development?Can gentle density overcome NIMBY and YIMBY opposition?Chapters:00:00 – Canada’s Housing Problem and the Case for Gentle Density01:25 – The Three Ways Cities Can Build More Housing03:00 – Why Multiplexes Face Local Opposition04:35 – Toronto’s Controversial Station Road Eightplex06:15 – Calgary’s Upzoning Rollback07:30 – What Is Gentle Density?08:20 – Objection #1: Buildings Are Too Tall09:35 – Form-Based Zoning Explained11:05 – Zoning vs. Building Codes12:15 – Objection #2: Buildings Are Too Large13:05 – Objection #3: Parking and Infrastructure14:25 – Can Gentle Density Benefit Existing Homeowners?16:10 – Tiny Homes and Pocket Neighbourhoods17:25 – Does Density Mean More Rental Housing?19:00 – Making Small-Scale Homeownership Easier20:25 – What Canada Can Learn From B.C. and Oregon21:45 – Where Should Gentle Density Start?23:00 – Can Gentle Density Actually Get Political Support?24:15 – NIMBYs vs. YIMBYs: Is Gentle Density Too Mild?25:00 – Moving Beyond Arbitrary Unit CountsResearch/links:MMI Gentle Density Report: https://www.missingmiddleinitiative.ca/p/from-policy-gridlock-to-housing-growth NIMBYs will Fight Even the Gentlest of Densityhttps://youtu.be/6WavljFV7fM?si=geir1FhAbhdgliv_Nightmare on Craven Road: When Local Politics Derail Citywide Housing Goalshttps://youtu.be/qVQ4gQRnOss?si=RFywNBKZedLERiuj2025 Statcan Study: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/36-28-0001/2025005/article/00003-eng.htm2026 Statcan Study: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/46-28-0001/2026001/article/00002-eng.htmToronto:https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/04/22/etobicoke-eightplex-site-mimico-residents-developer-toronto/Calgary:https://calgary.citynews.ca/2026/04/22/calgary-federal-housing-funds/ Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina MaddeauxProduced by Meredith MartinFunded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/