Build Urban @BuildUrbanWR

Seven months after the Mannheim development pause began, more than 5,000 homes and $500M+ in investment remain stalled. The Region must move from an indefinite pause to a clear path forward through servicing agreements, phased approvals, and transparent allocation.

Applications are now open for Ontario’s DC Reduction Program. Up to $8.8B in funding is available for municipalities that reduce development charges and support housing infrastructure. We encourage Waterloo Region municipalities to apply before the June 19 deadline.

Water capacity constraints in Mannheim freeze new development across parts of the Region of Waterloo. Council has ordered a third-party investigation into how the situation developed. New expertise is in place, and solutions are being explored. More here: bit.ly/4us0AZE

Build Urban backs Councillor Doug Craig’s call for an independent review of @RegionWaterloo’s water capacity. Transparency, accountability & action are needed to lift the development freeze and restore servicing. More: bit.ly/4b3aBDV

Ontario introduces the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, a major step toward tackling housing supply challenges. The proposed Act aims to cut red tape, speed up approvals, and get homes built faster. Technical briefing: bit.ly/3Jf8aEs

@citywaterloo's proposed CPPS aims to streamline zoning, variances & site plans into one process. Draft covers Uptown & Erb St. We support the intent but push for a fair, workable system. See our recommendations: bit.ly/46UYHv4

“We are hard at work on cutting development charges... it’s on the hot list for this fall, so stand by.” – Fed Housing Minister Gregor Robertson With DCs topping $100K and no transparency, builders need real incentives, less red tape and more action. bit.ly/46ogHxI

Build Urban met with @citywaterloo this week to discuss the future of housing, including market impacts, CPPS & IZ, as well as development charges. These conversations help bridge the public & private sectors, ensuring housing remains accessible & attainable.

You see tax on a coffee. But on a home? Hidden fees like $130K+ in development charges are buried in the price, no breakdown, no transparency. Buyers deserve to know what they're paying for. It's time to make housing costs visible. tgam.ca/3Ii3BbP

Ontario is investing $12.9 million to train more than 50,000 workers in Waterloo Region, including support for skilled trades, safety training & modular housing— a real step toward faster builds, safer sites & stronger communities. More: bit.ly/3JF3ffY

Rising costs, interest rates, and risk can stall projects even with approvals. As Ontario revisits the Build Faster Fund, we must shift from blame to alignment. Governments, municipalities, and builders need to work together to get homes built. #onhousing bit.ly/3HWoXLI

London has been awarded nearly $12M for exceeding housing targets under Ontario’s #BuildingFasterFund. With 3,723 new homes started and more than 22,000 units approved, the city is setting the pace on housing. When visions align, real change happens. bit.ly/4lPeNu9

Ontario isn't just falling behind on housing, it's dragging the rest of Canada with it. According to CMHC, housing starts dropped 25% in the first half of 2025, while the rest of Canada saw growth. It’s time to move from policies to outcomes. tgam.ca/3UtALrt

Only 1,231 housing starts in Waterloo Region so far in 2025, we are on track for the worst year in over a decade. Developers are ready. We need faster approvals, less red tape and real collaboration to build our way out of the crisis. bit.ly/457RYNb

Build Urban met with MP Connie Cody to discuss how the federal GST rebate can help unlock more attainable housing. Productive, action-focused conversations like this move the needle on policy and progress.

Build Urban is proud to be part of the BuildNow project, an initiative that brings industry leaders together to push for real, practical solutions to Ontario’s housing crisis. It’s about collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to building better, faster, and smarter.

At last night’s @citywaterloo Council meeting, Build Urban’s @MelissaDurrell spoke on Inclusionary Zoning. With no cranes in the sky, rising costs and stalled projects, the market can’t absorb more risk. We support staff’s call to pause IZ until conditions stabilize.

On a recent episode of the Missing Middle podcast, @ronmortgageguy talks with @SabrinaMaddeaux and @MikePMoffatt about the roots of Canada’s housing crisis— from speculative buying to supply mismatches and policy barriers. A timely, thoughtful listen: youtube.com/watch?v=9xD5ve…

Waterloo City Council has approved two significant rental housing projects near transit, adding new units, mixed-use space, and future high-density potential. A strong example of how government-developer collaboration can help address the housing crisis: bit.ly/3HNRPWh

Despite modest income gains and mortgage shifts, condo prices in cities like Toronto and Hamilton continue to rise. We've made progress, but true housing affordability and accessibility remain a challenge. Full article via Storeys: lnkd.in/2suwu #BuildUrban