C24-P001 Converting Abandoned Buildings Into Eco-Friendly Housing

It is proposed that:

Canada amends the National Building Code to include standards for the construction of large stores, factories, and warehouses, to facilitate their subsequent conversion into eco-friendly housing and cooperatives.

These standards will require all new mall and warehouse developments to achieve a zero-carbon budget and to establish a plan for conversion into housing and cooperatives.

All investor-developers will be required to pay a reserve amount into a trust account, which will be used to convert buildings into housing.

In the event of abandonment or non-response, the municipality will be able to take ownership of the site after a one-year period of non-occupation and will have access to the reserve amount held in trust.

A similar process, including remediation of contaminated soil and conversion to public green space, will be undertaken in the case of abandoned service stations.

This policy was submitted in French. The wording above is the official English translation of the policy.

Note: This policy motion will be included in the Continuous Motion Development all-member vote. Click here to review the Workshop version  which contains background information, member comments & amendment history. No dissenting opinions were submitted on this policy proposal.