fedplanner
Active Member
Basically it's because for a 4 storey or less building, you can use wood framed construction (cheap) and may not need an elevator. For 5 or more storeys, you are required to use concrete and steel construction, which is a lot more expensive. Developers HATE building 5 storey buildings. I don't understand why planners have such an obsession with "mid rise" construction, because developers are not going to build condo buildings which have uneconomical building heights where it is hard to make a decent profit. Usually most proposals for buildings above 4 storeys are for a 15-20+ storey building; the taller the building, the more units the developer can put in the building and the more money a developer can make.
I'm curious. Is it possible to use concrete for the first storey, below-grade garage and foundation with 4 stories of wood frame above? Would that be economical from the construction side or is it still not allowed under the Ontario building code.