Affordable housing
Published June 6, 2007
We can debate the definition of affordable housing, $50,000 one way or another but looking through last week's local paper there wasn't even one house or condo for under $400,000 and I don't think that would fit anyone's definition of affordable.
In June a public hearing for the "South of Wye" development will take place and I don't think it is out of line to expect a percentage of the development to include "affordable housing" options. Now, I'm not expecting the developers to bear all the costs, but I would expect them to search out opportunities with other groups in the community and contribute in part to ensuring affordable housing options are available in Strathcona.
There is a local church that has begun collecting funds for a Habitat for Humanity development, council has had presentations from other groups looking to get involved and we have already had some successful co-op housing projects in the County.
Some of my Council colleagues feel it is unfair to require the next developer to ante up but my response is that there has to be a first for everything, if we could go back and require others to contribute I'd look at that but that's not the way the system works.
Is the developer required by policy to do this? No, but there is no policy to include community gardens either and that is part of the plan.
The City of Edmonton through "Cornerstones" Edmonton's plan for affordable housing 2006-2011, requires that City administration develop policies so that private developers' housing projects of a certain size provide at least five percent of the units for affordable long-term housing. Not every good idea has to be mandated through policy - what better way for a developer to give back to our community than by facilitating something on their own.
The provincial funding for affordable housing requires that partnerships be created to access the dollars. Strathcona's share is five million dollars. Industries, developers, the not-for-profit sector, along with the municipality, have a great opportunity to create partnerships to address affordable housing availability.
Jacquie Fenske
Councillor, Ward 5
464-8147
fenske@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Thursday, March 25, 2010
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