Citizen Developers

Rethinking Housing: Exploring the Missing Middle

What stands between single-family homes and high-rise towers? The Missing Middle—a diverse mix of housing types that can meet the needs of households across incomes, ages, and sizes.

As part of CMHC’s Housing Supply Challenge, the University of Toronto’s School of Cities worked with 18 housing innovators across Canada to uncover what’s holding back gentle density—and how to scale it up. Their research, led by Dr. Carolyn Whitzman, dives into everything from accessory dwelling units and modular construction to zoning reform and financing tools that can unlock small-scale, affordable housing.

Case studies from Edmonton, Kelowna, and Kitchener highlight real-world approaches to enabling change. This resource also outlines practical policy levers, from ending exclusionary zoning to modernizing codes and simplifying approvals.

The webpage and tools are designed to spark ideas and support early-stage planning. Readers are encouraged to consult local policies and experts before applying these strategies in their own communities.

Explore the research and see how Canadian cities are building a more inclusive, sustainable housing future—one Missing Middle home at a time.

Unlock New Space at Home: Burlington’s Garage Conversion Toolkit

Thinking about converting your garage into a livable suite? The City of Burlington’s Garage Conversion Toolkit can help you explore what’s possible—whether you’re creating a comfortable space for a family member or planning to rent it out as a secondary unit.

Designed to spark ideas and support early planning, the toolkit features sample layouts for one- and two-bedroom units, an accessible design option, and a Supply List with estimated costs. It also outlines key considerations like zoning, permits, and construction steps—tailored to Burlington’s local context.

While the toolkit is a great starting point for inspiration, always consult your local municipality or a qualified professional to ensure your project aligns with regulations in your area.

Download the toolkit and take the first step toward making the most of your garage.

More housing, faster — and with less guesswork! 🏘️

CMHC’s new Housing Design Catalogue is a step forward in making gentle density housing easier to build across Canada.

This free resource features ready-to-go designs for row-houses, fourplexes, sixplexes, and accessory dwelling units—designed to work in different regions across the country. This information offers a head start for homeowners, builders and municipalities in their planning processes.

Why does this matter?
✅ It can help reduce design costs and speed up construction.
✅ It supports smaller builders and homeowner-developers who might not have easy access to design expertise.
✅ It helps communities add gentle density in ways that fit existing neighbourhoods.

The full architectural packages will be available this spring—and we’ll be keeping a close eye on how this can support projects right here in BC.

Check out the Catalogue today!

Unlocking the Missing Middle: Proven Practices for Affordable, Higher-Density Housing

The School of Cities, University of Toronto, presents a comprehensive report on enabling “Missing Middle” (MM) housing development—a key solution to Canada’s housing affordability and density challenges. This report explores proven and promising practices from Canada, the U.S., and New Zealand, offering actionable insights to overcome barriers and enhance reforms for MM housing.

What is Missing Middle Housing?

MM housing bridges the gap between single-family homes and high-rise buildings, encompassing:

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Small detached or attached homes.
• Multiplexes: Multi-unit conversions of existing homes or purpose-built flats.
• Small Apartment Buildings: Developments up to four storeys, often on a single lot.

Designed for households earning 51–120% of the area median household income (AMHI), MM also includes affordable options for low-income households through ADUs, rooming houses, and nonmarket housing. MM housing was once a staple of North American cities, offering compact, diverse housing types in central, well-serviced locations before exclusionary zoning and gentrification limited its availability.

Why Missing Middle Housing Matters

The benefits of MM housing are transformative:

• Affordability: Smaller homes at moderate price points.
• Diversity: A range of home sizes, from studio ADUs to four-bedroom apartments.
• Accessibility: Proximity to public transit, amenities, and employment hubs.
• Sustainability: Energy-efficient designs and reduced travel distances.

The Road Ahead

The report outlines barriers to MM development—legislative, administrative, and financial—and identifies enablers to support its growth. Drawing from case studies in Auckland and other cities, it demonstrates how increasing MM housing supply can reduce housing costs and improve access for low-income tenants.

📖 Discover how Missing Middle housing can reshape Canadian cities. Read the full report now to explore proven practices, global success stories, and actionable strategies to bring MM housing to life.

Scaling Up Modular Housing: A Blueprint for Success

The School of Cities, University of Toronto, has published a comprehensive report on the future of modular housing in Canada. This in-depth analysis explores how modular construction can be scaled up to address housing needs, with a particular focus on overcoming barriers through stronger collaboration between developers, manufacturers, and construction companies.

The report is divided into four key sections:

1. Overview – Learn about modular construction methods, where factory-produced components are assembled on-site, offering adaptable, efficient solutions for diverse environments.
2. Barriers and Enablers – Discover the challenges that limit modular housing adoption, from project-level constraints to industry-wide hurdles, and explore actionable solutions tailored to Canada’s housing landscape.
3. Case Studies – Explore real-world examples showcasing how communities overcame obstacles to deliver successful modular housing projects.
4. Recommendations – Gain insights into strategies for scaling modular housing, including organizational changes, industry collaboration, and policy advocacy.

Unlock the potential of modular housing to transform Canada’s housing market. Dive into actionable strategies, real-life examples, and expert recommendations that pave the way for scalable, sustainable solutions.

Read the full report now to explore how modular housing can reshape housing affordability and innovation.

Explore how cities across Canada are embracing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with the School of Cities, University of Toronto’s interactive ADU Tracker. Dive into charts and interactive maps that reveal the take-up of detached and attached ADUs in 16 major urban centres, alongside summaries of municipal and provincial policies shaping this housing innovation.

With federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) investments boosting housing supply to address population growth and affordability, this tool offers insights into ADU trends, permitting data from 2014–2023, and policy analysis. From Toronto to Calgary, see how ADUs are shaping the future of housing—and learn how your city can do the same.

Developed by Ahmad Al-Musa, Priya Perwani, Muhammad Khalis Bin Samion, & Jeff Allen.

Unlocking Alberta’s Middle Housing Potential

In partnership with the Canadian Urban Institute and mddl, and funded by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, this report dives into the transformative possibilities of middle housing in Alberta. From innovative strategies to overcome barriers to scaling production, to practical solutions for unlocking gentle density across the province, this collaboration is a must-read for anyone passionate about housing solutions. Curious about how middle housing could reshape Alberta’s communities?

Click through to discover the findings and recommendations shaping the future of attainable, diverse housing options!

Launched by the Community Planning Collaborative (CPC) in August 2024, the California ADU Plans Gallery is an innovative web application showcasing an array of prefabricated and traditional site-built designs. While tailored to U.S. jurisdictions, this gallery offers valuable insights for Canadian audiences, particularly for municipalities and planners exploring accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a way to expand housing supply. Examples such as prefabricated designs and statewide pre-approvals can serve as inspiration for Canadian local governments considering ADU implementation in their communities. The site also includes a demo, offering local governments a preview for launching a similar custom tool.

“The California ADU Plans Gallery gives local governments a place to demonstrate what’s possible for their communities while providing a publicly accessible database of prefabricated plans approved for use statewide,” said David Driskell, principal at CPC, in a press release announcing the launch. “Digital tools like the ADU Plans Gallery help local governments assist their residents through the challenging ADU process and expand housing supply in their existing neighborhoods.”

Explore the California ADU Plans Gallery here.