Elevate Living is a Niagarabased homebuilder and developer inspired by ‘New Urbanism’ – a planning and development approach based on the principles of walkable blocks and streets, housing and shopping in close proximity, and accessible public spaces. For more than 15 years, company founder Drew Toth has been deeply involved with providing local housing in accordance with those principles. In his early days, he worked as an advocate for housing for vulnerable citizens. As the leader of Elevate Living, he’s been involved in modifying existing residences to include secondary units, building new townhomes, condos, multiunit dwellings and single family homes, and developing new neighbourhoods throughout the Niagara region. Over the years, all of Elevate Living’s activities have been based around the goal of “meeting the needs of our community through real estate,” Drew says. In Niagara, one of the community’s biggest needs is more housing. That’s a need shared by all communities in Ontario, as according to the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force, the province must build 1.5 million new homes within the next decade to accommodate their growing population. “Of course, meeting this requirement without erasing or replacing the fabric of our existing communities requires a thoughtful approach to development,” Drew explains. Elevate Living seeks to provide that thoughtful approach. According to Drew and the principles of New Urbanism, that means creating mixed-use and residential developments within existing neighborhoods to allow for greater density, character, and walkability. It means implementing development designs and characteristics that reduce the need for vehicles wherever possible; creating a variety JANUARY 2024
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