I would expect that the per unit cost to build in NB is lower than in some other provinces. From the standpoint of gauging how much housing we are building, would number of units per capita perhaps be a better indicator of how we compare?
I would think that excluding land costs, the cost to build is at best the same as other provinces, one could argue higher due to higher transportation costs for materials not locally produced. Also with a lower population density and therefore infrastructure costs (roads, hydro, water/sewage, schools, hospitals) these would also play a role in construction costs.
You're right if we're comparing like for like builds, but I would think that the type of housing that we build differs a bit. Most new units in New Brunswick are probably in wood framed low rise apartment buildings, which would have a lower cost per unit than high rise concrete/steel structures, as an example.
In other provinces the building codes allow for low rise wood frame apartment buildings but in places like Toronto the are looking for density due to significantly higher land costs. So if you built a similar low rise apartment here or in the Greater Toronto Area (for example) I would think the build costs would be similar at best. What I notice here in Moncton is that most low rise buildings are REIT rental properties, very few owner occupied buildings. Taller buildings like the 3 Sister's development in Moncton is a concrete structure. Most high rises in Toronto are owner occupied or single unit landlords.
The situation is similar in Fredericton in terms of owner occupancy in multiunit buildings.
My point is simply that our share of low rise wood framed buildings is likely much higher than in Ontario, which could possibly drive our per unit development costs lower.
I think it would be interesting to compare the per unit costs against the per capita development spending across the provinces.
Given the Canada-wide housing crisis, I wonder if the high cost of building materials has stopped many construction projects, especially in the ROC.
I would expect that the per unit cost to build in NB is lower than in some other provinces. From the standpoint of gauging how much housing we are building, would number of units per capita perhaps be a better indicator of how we compare?
I would think that excluding land costs, the cost to build is at best the same as other provinces, one could argue higher due to higher transportation costs for materials not locally produced. Also with a lower population density and therefore infrastructure costs (roads, hydro, water/sewage, schools, hospitals) these would also play a role in construction costs.
You're right if we're comparing like for like builds, but I would think that the type of housing that we build differs a bit. Most new units in New Brunswick are probably in wood framed low rise apartment buildings, which would have a lower cost per unit than high rise concrete/steel structures, as an example.
In other provinces the building codes allow for low rise wood frame apartment buildings but in places like Toronto the are looking for density due to significantly higher land costs. So if you built a similar low rise apartment here or in the Greater Toronto Area (for example) I would think the build costs would be similar at best. What I notice here in Moncton is that most low rise buildings are REIT rental properties, very few owner occupied buildings. Taller buildings like the 3 Sister's development in Moncton is a concrete structure. Most high rises in Toronto are owner occupied or single unit landlords.
The situation is similar in Fredericton in terms of owner occupancy in multiunit buildings.
My point is simply that our share of low rise wood framed buildings is likely much higher than in Ontario, which could possibly drive our per unit development costs lower.
I think it would be interesting to compare the per unit costs against the per capita development spending across the provinces.