Densification & affordability : comparative real estate projects across Montreal
Montreal, Quebec is building towards a more compact urban form and there is a fundamental questioning of its effect on home-ownership affordability. Using the process of densification, a survey on a range of real estate condominium projects across the city is conducted to divulge the prices of new or in-construction projects. Beginning with a literature review of the most up to date planning stratagems, notably Smart Growth initiatives, the context for densification and consumerist tendencies to prefer sprawled urban forms is highlighted. Fundamentally, there is a teleocratic versus nomocratic planning approach that must be decided upon. Contemporary densification in Montreal is expressed in a myriad of condominium designs conforming to new demographic trends and lifestyles. Using existing criteria by Accès Condos, the projects are compared and validated as to whether or not condominium unit prices are affordable. As a result, new or in-construction condominium units are found to be affordable with respect to the Accès Condos programme and to median income households.  The analysis contributes empirically to the literature by relating the impetus of densification strategies with levels of affordability. The research takes a fresh look into Montreal's own condominium phenomenon alongside trending demographic studies. Using Burgess' spatial segregation of the city, a cross comparison survey tests for affordability across Montreal. The findings suggest that current projects are relatively affordable for median income earning households as per AccèsCondos.
Densification Affordability Smart Growth Condos Demographic trends