The lack of affordable housing across the Capital Regional District is a big issue, but unless policies are enacted to implement stronger guidelines for developers to provide below market units, it wonB次元官网网址檛 get any better, say two municipal councillors.
In 2017, Victoria Coun. Jeremy Loveday brought forward a motion to council to ensure every development that requires a rezoning includes a certain number of affordable units.
B次元官网网址淔or me, this is a top priority,B次元官网网址� says Loveday, who is running for re-election this fall. B次元官网网址淗ousing is the biggest issue facing our city. I hear from residents all the time thatB次元官网网址檚 what they want the city to focus on.B次元官网网址�
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The concept isnB次元官网网址檛 new B次元官网网址� throughout his term on council Loveday has advocated for such a policy, working closely with housing policy experts from senior levels of government as well as colleagues on council.
The current policy, adopted in 2016, and gives developers the option to provide affordable units or contribute to an amenity fund. Loveday prefers to see housing units created and the proposed policy focuses on that. B次元官网网址淚n my opinion, it should be triggered by whatB次元官网网址檚 already there, and not whatB次元官网网址檚 possible.B次元官网网址�
| Victoria city councillor Jeremy Loveday. Twitter |
The draft policy, to be presented to council Sept. 6, suggests a target of 10 to 15 per cent of total units in a given development be secured for affordable rental housing. The City estimates 124 units of B次元官网网址渂elow market rentalB次元官网网址� housing are required each year to meet targets set by its housing strategy.
But the policy has been stalled, because of what Loveday calls B次元官网网址渄ifferent priorities for actionB次元官网网址� on council.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e behind most municipalities across the province,B次元官网网址� he points out. A staff report indicates Richmond, Vancouver and North Vancouver already employ inclusionary housing policies.
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In Esquimalt, Coun. Olga Liberchuk, who will not run for re-election, says council understands it has a housing crisis on its hands.
She will bring forward a motion Sept. 17 that would enact a similar policy to ensure all new developments in Esquimalt offer below market accommodation, a goal sheB次元官网网址檚 attempted to achieve throughout her term.
B次元官网网址淣ow is a good time to re-introduce it, because weB次元官网网址檙e seeing the neighbourhood around Constance and Admirals really eyed by developers,B次元官网网址� she explains.
| Esquimalt councillor Olga Liberchuk. Twitter |
Corvette Landing, a 12-storey development poised to demolish existing dwellings in the 600-block of Constance Avenue, has been transparent about its target market B次元官网网址� those with an income of $75,000 a year per household.
That brings market levels down from other proposals, Liberchuk says, but itB次元官网网址檚 not enough.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really going to change that neighbourhood,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淲ith those changes, those people are basically getting displaced at this point. ItB次元官网网址檚 really hard to see it happening in front of our eyes.B次元官网网址�
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Karen Shirley is one of those people. The Constance Avenue resident presented council with a petition Aug. 20 asking for a B次元官网网址渉alt to development in the Township until council enacts a policy to protect low income renters in Esquimalt.B次元官网网址�
The document, signed by 99 people, was on the same agenda where council considered four rezoning applications and a development permit for the Township of just under 20,000 people.
Developers have descended upon the neighbourhood, purchasing properties for demolition and replacing them with more expensive housing, Shirley wrote to council.
B次元官网网址淥ur neighbourhood is being gentrified,B次元官网网址� she added.
Liberchuk fears Esquimalt is at risk of losing its neighbourhoods, forgetting about people on low and moderate incomes in the community. B次元官网网址淔or true affordable housing, there have not been any proposals recently that have come forward.B次元官网网址�
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The intent of the Victoria policy is to harness the private market to serve the public, says Jonathan Tinney, director of sustainable planning and community development for the City of Victoria.
It will only apply to proposals where there is a request for rezoning B次元官网网址� Victoria currently has 13 in the pre-application phase.
B次元官网网址淭his policy wonB次元官网网址檛 solve the problem, itB次元官网网址檚 one tool in the toolbox,B次元官网网址� Tinney says.
Ultimately, Loveday says the policy is about making the development that is already happening better for residents, because mixed-income developments are healthier and build community.
Currently, some developments in Victoria have included affordable units on a voluntary basis, having predicted the passing of a policy like this. Still, Loveday hears from people who are struggling to find housing daily, from low- to middle-income earners.
B次元官网网址淔amilies are being driven out of the city,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭o be successful [Victoria] needs to be somewhere where families can thrive.B次元官网网址�
A rally is planned for 6 p.m. at Victoria City Hall on Sept. 6 before the council meeting.
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