Reader Response Forum
04/03/2010 05:43
A Suggestion For Habitat Alternative
One of the main reasons I wanted to pen a few articles for the Saint City News was to provide a counterpoint to the divisive political tactics that we have not before seen within our community. Federally or provincially, wedge politics are distasteful yet acceptable as you are often dealing with a political boundary, abstract political concepts or impersonal groups that are singled out. There is a big difference between attacking “industry” or “CUPE” for example versus attacking the community of Akinsdale which people call home. Municipal politics govern the affairs closest to the individual and as a result these politics affect citizen’s lives on a personal level. The phrase “NIMBY” has an interesting double entendre in that if it is not in your backyard, how much right do you have to affect someone else’s democratic entitlement to self determination? You can build a political platform and even a successful campaign based on wedge politics but one thing you will not build is a community.
Earlier this week there was an article in the St. Albert Gazette titled “Time Condos a Question Mark”. The article explained that the 62 unit condominium complex on Sturgeon Road has ceased construction since the summer of 2009 and has been in limbo for almost 2 years. Apparently the dev eloper of this project has been hit hard by the credit crunch and does not have the requisite funds needed to complete the project. The article goes on to quote realtor Amal Monzer as saying, “...construction won’t proceed until 10 units are sold. But the developer isn’t able to specify a completion date, making it unlikely that buyers or bankers will be interested.” Not surprisingly our mayor’s reaction was to say “We want it finished so we can collect the tax revenue out of it.”
In dealing with complex issues like affordable housing, rarely does an obvious solution present itself upon a silver platter and yet oddly goes completely unnoticed by all of our politicians. We have a proposed project in Akinsdale that reduces the quality of life for the residents, diminishes the character of the neighbourhood and threatens the home equity they have all worked so hard for. This proposal obviously leaves the residents upset. The proposed transaction would result in 15 low cost Habit for Humanity homes and 43 for a private developer at a cost of $840,000 to the City of St. Albert.
Why does the city not call Amal Monzer, and use this $840,000 for a down payment on 15 units in the partially completed Braeside condominium? The city could then donate these housing units to Habitat for Humanity who would then re-assign mortgages and ownership, thereby reconstructing a similar deal to that proposed in Akinsdale. Since the complex is 80% complete, Habitat would easily be able to bring in the potential home owners for their required 500 hours of “sweat equity” construction work to complete these units. What better option affords this financially insolvent developer and the city currently?
Among the various alternatives, this is a potential solution that will satisfy Akinsdale residents, satisfy affordable housing advocates and is a solution everyone in St. Albert can get behind and support. I realize that this would derail city council from its dual focus of tax collection and new spending projects, but if you are looking for a politically and socially viable win-win scenario for all stakeholders, you will not find a better option to pursue. Sometime the dots almost connect themselves.
Yours truly,
Cam MacKay
St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Well, Cam, that is certainly a grand idea and it would do the world of good to solve both issues. Here is a real opportunity for Mayor Crouse and his council to show some real leadership and prove once and for all that tax money does not rule their thinking. But are they big enough to change course and do something good for all of the city? Only time will tell.
Bet This One Brings A Smile To Your Face
Ordering a Pepsi, Italian Style
