The Globe and Mail
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Core Development Group Ltd.
Back in the sunny days of 2019 the co-living concept – which sells a version of dorm life to young professional renters – was one of those ideas that seemed like it had no downside, like going to restaurants or hugging your grandparents.
Then the pandemic hit, and in a world defined by COVID-19 shacking up with 4 to 8 roommates suddenly made it seem like getting a snack from the shared kitchen might be a super-spreader event. As the crisis dragged on the economic side effects began to hammer the entire rental market and particularly in urban centres vacancy rates began to rise and rents begin to fall. In the co-living space there have been bankruptcies, restructurings and retrenchments throughout 2020.