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The City of Ottawa is very aware of the benefits of high-density living, which is why in Ottawa’s Official Master Plan they have an explicit strategy to direct growth to urban areas.

Services that improve the environmental performance of a city, such as waste water treatment, recycling, and composting, are all easier when everyone lives close together. Of course, the main benefits to municipal governments are the cost savings and reduced infrastructure investments, but the potential environmental benefits are undeniable.

Realistically though, energy use and the cost of city services are probably the last things on a person’s mind when they are looking for a new home. Other factors such as affordability, green space, nearby amenities, and proximity to schools are more important for most people.

Downtown living is clearly not for everyone. Young families in particular tend to prefer the suburban lifestyle. These personal preferences should not be trivialized. We need a mix of housing types to satisfy our varied population.

The Ottawa-Gatineau region’s population grows by 15,000 to 20,000 new residents per year. If the number of new houses doesn’t keep pace with population growth, home prices will increase for everyone.

In order to keep up with this growth, Ottawa will have to build both within the city core as well as out on the city’s edges. How much this growth occurs in highrise development compared to suburban growth will depend on consumer preferences, affordability, land availability and city policies.