Affordable housing in Canada a struggle

[Molly]

Affordable housing in Canada a struggle

The Conference Board of Canada has issued a major report on the lack of affordable housing across Canada - see below - on March 30th. The free report was underwritten with financial assistance from provincial governments and housing sector organizations. The development reference web site includes a variety of tools to illustrate methods for developing more affordable housing.

The report can be downloaded from the following location: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/documents.aspx?did=3530

The web based affordable housing tools can be accessed here: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/networks/rsedh/Housing/default.aspx

The affordable housing crisis in Kingston is particularly acute as a result of an extremely low vacancy rate and long waiting lists for affordable housing.

[Lydia]

Hi Folks, I recently received the following in an e-mail regarding a presentation that took place recently on the affordable housing development or lack of it. I always present everyone's views on here regardless of whether I agree with it or not.
I do support having low-income housing being developed in Barriefield which differs from the presentation below

FACT SHEET
Re: Use of Barriefield Lands
•
Barriefield was the first Heritage Conservation District to be recognized by the Ontario government, back in 1980.
•
The Barriefield Village AssoLi.ation (BV A) opposed the City of Kingston's proposal for an affordable housing project in Barriefield, which was put together behind closed doors without public input or the involvement of Barriefield residents.
•
TIle Hughes-Downey plan, commissioned by the City and presented in October 2009, called for 32 mostly single-bedroom units, in a complex of duplexes and fourplexes. It violated the Heritage Conservation District Plan (HCDP) and the heritage integrity of the village.
•
Using the City's own figures, the BVA has calcnlated that because of high costs due to the constraints of a heritage site, a 32-unit project in Barriefield would cost at least $ 1.4 million more than the same number of units built elsewhere in the City.
•
'The federal government's offer of making Barriefield lands available for $1 ifused for affordable housing is contingent on an acceptable proposal being made by the City. Kingston has to be chosen from among several cities from across Canada competing for the limited funds under a special federal program. 1here is no guarantee that the City's application will be successfnl.
•
Some members of City Council seem determined to build a major housing project in Barriefield regardless of cost and heritage implications. rIlle BVA believes wisdom will prevail and a compatible project can be agreed upon.
•
City Council has voted to spend up to $250,000 for a feasibility study now under way by an independent consultant to determine whether the Barriefield land is actually suitable for building affordable housing. rIlle consnltant's report to City Council is schednled for September when a decision will be made on whether to proceed with the work and expense of part two of the study.
•
The consnltants will make public their preliminary recommendations on Aug. 9. rIlle BVA is concerned that these tight timelines threaten to limit public input and discussion especially during the sununer vacation period.
•
1he BV A recognizes the shortage of affordable housing in Kingston and endorses City Council's commitment to respond to this social need.

[Lydia]

Qs&As ****
Re: Use of Barriefield Lands
Q. 1. Is the Barriefield Village Association (BV A) opposed to any kind of development on the Barriefield lands?
A. No. Obviously, the status quo is the surest way to protect the integrity ofthe village. However, we are realistic and after seeking expert advice we realize that some form of development will likely occur on the green spaces along Highway 15. The overriding principle should be that any development must be appropriate in scale and design and in keeping with the heritage character ofthe area as set down in the 1992 Heritage Conservation District Plan (HCDP).
Q. 2. What does the BVA hope to accomplish by participating in the City's feasibility study on use of the lands?
A. Our goal is to prevent any irresponsible development ofthis valuable site. To achieve this we will playa positive and cooperative role in influencing the process that determines what kind of development eventually takes place.
Q. 3. Why is Barriefield opposed to the City's current proposal?
A. When news ofthe City's proposed affordable housing project on federal government land was sprung on us, we were both shocked and disappointed that we had been left out ofthe decision-making process that was carried out behind closed doors. We expressed our opposition to the proposal on the basis ofits high costs due to the constraints ofa heritage site and the impact a project that size would have on Barriefield's heritage status.
Q. 4. Why should people outside Barriefield care about its heritage?
A Barriefield is Kingston's Heritage Village. It was the first to be recognized as a Heritage Conservation District by the Province ofOntario thirty years ago. Before that it was an overlooked heritage jewel until the 1970s it had no municipal water or sanitary services and Highway 15 ploughed through its main street. Today, with the lJ]\TESCOdesignated Fort Henry and Rideau Canal system, it is a part ofthe Heritage Gateway to Kingston, a unique example ofa pre-Confederation rural village. Barriefield is a valuable heritage asset for the city, for its culture, tourism and economic development. It should be protected as a legacy for future generations, for Kingston and the nation.

[Lydia]

MEDIA RELEASE 13 July 2010
BARRJEFIELD VILLAGE ASSOCIATION
WILL PRESENT ITS OWN DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
WHICH INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Barriefield Village Association (BV A) announced today that it has hired a highly respected independent heritage planner to assist in preparing a proposal to address potential development in Barriefield on land being released by the Department of National Defence.
Wayne Morgan, a heritage planner with more than 30 years' experience in heritage planning in Ontario, has begun work and the BVA is' hopeful the resulting proposal, which will include affordable housing, will be given serious consideration by the City.
From 2000-2006 Mr. Morgan was Senior Coordinator ofHeritage Preservation Services with the City ofToronto, a position which included giving technical advice to City Council and managing the review and approval ofproposals involving heritage properties in the city. Before that he was a planner with the City ofToronto, Metro Toronto, York Region and Hamilton Wentworth.
"The physical form ofdevelopment on the DND lands must fit with the character ofthe Village and the Heritage Conservation District Plan requirements, including the character ofnew buildings, the maintenance of important view corridors, the maintenance and enhancement ofa landscaped buffer along Highway 15 and appropriately designed public realm facilities, such as roads.
"In my experience, it is important for the success ofsuch developments in heritage districts that the community be engaged in its design rather than having it imposed on them. I look forward to working with the community to provide input to the City in embracing new development that maintains the heritage character ofthe Village," said Mr. Morgan.
BVA spokesperson Doug Morrow said "We are grateful that the City is finally consulting the public on use ofthe three parcels ofland. With Mr. Morgan's assistance and the City's willingness to accept our input, I know we can achieve a positive result.
"We need a plan that is vastly superior to the City's originally proposed 32-unit affordable housing project that violated the Heritage Conservation District Plan (HCDP) and threatened Barrlefield's heritage integrity."
The City's original proposal was suddenly announced last October after being put together behind closed doors by staff and consultants and without input from the public, Barriefield residents or heritage officials.