Declining office needs will see Burlington builder add more housing

The builder of two Burlington condo towers has been given permission to replace planned office space with more residential units.

Representatives of 2071 Fairview Street asked for the change because, they said, office space is no longer in demand in post-Covid society.

At a recent committee meeting the representative for the Molinaro Group said employers no longer need office space as their workers prefer to carry out their jobs from home. As well, employers can also save money by switching to virtual workplaces.

Instead, they said the additional housing units would satisfy marketplace demand.

Already under construction, the project will see two 18-storey buildings when complete.

The plan will add 24 more living units bringing the total to 388. And, as a result of the change, office space will shrink by more than two-thirds to 10,869 square feet. More retail shopping areas will also be added.