TORONTO NOISE AMENDMENT COULD DELAY CONSTRUCTION

Toronto is poised to restrict concrete work for the construction of high-rise buildings through amendments to its noise bylaw. The move would threaten more than 7,000 jobs and, in the words of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) via CISION, "cripple the industry's ability to deliver much needed housing supply to Torontonians." It would only apply to private-sector projects but not government work, impacting housing affordability and anticipated occupancies for up to 32,000 new condominium and rental units. RESCON said the issue is critical for high rises, as the exemption to be rescinded permits concrete finishing past 7 p.m. Without this exemption, projects would be prolonged from six to 10 months beyond current construction schedules. Changes would  take effect on October 1 and affect the city's 112 permitted high-rise projects if the exemption is removed on April 16.