Suddenly, pretty much out of the blue, affordable housing options are appearing in our valley.
Controversial proposals in Canmore’s Peak of Grassi neighbourhood, along with the old daycare site, have been presented and had their impact weighed and challenged, Parks Canada has offered up lots on Cave Avenue and Deer Street at a bargain and now Coast Hotel in Canmore is exploring development of a 90-unit rental apartment building (front page).
It would appear that, after affordable housing issues seemed mired in mud for years, there is a light – maybe not a bright light – but a light at the end of the tunnel.
Yes, council approved the waiving of $12,000 in fees to see the Coast proposal move forward, but as we’ve stated several times in this space, development of affordable housing in our communities is likely only going to happen if our municipal governments have a stake in it.
At $12,000, and not actually out of pocket, we feel the Town waiving fees for rezoning, subdivision and amendment of the Bow Valley Trail area redevelopment plan is more than acceptable – indeed, it would be irresponsible not to agree to the waiver in moving the project forward.
Being that no privately developed rental housing has appeared in Canmore since the Edmonton Oilers last won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Boston Bruins, Phil Collins’ “I Wish It Would Rain Down” topped the charts in Canada and GST legislation was passed in the senate, it’s about time.
Waiving these fees is just a baby step in moving forward, of course, but as a Chinese proverb states, a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.
Down the road, of course, conditions that would ensure the project remain rental-based, rather than being condominium-ized, for example, should be included.
As well, assurances that rentals remain affordable, rather than possibly reaching into the realm of high-end luxury units, will go a long way in a successful development process.
Still, with several affordable housing projects in the works, including rentals, the issue may finally be addressed in some way. Going forward, as well, the fact that 90 rental units may be built should in no way alter decisions on other housing projects.
After all, what’s needed in our communities is a mix of affordable housing for both rent and purchase, to adequately meet the needs of everyone. Not everyone wants or desires to own a home, so affordable rentals are simply another ingredient in the housing mix.
After years, decades even, of discussion, open houses, public forums, etc., we look forward to seeing concrete efforts on affordable housing take shape in our communities.
Hungry like the wolf
Luckily for some people in Banff last weekend, they found themselves in the right place at the right time to see wolves doing what wolves do in a natural setting – feeding on an elk in close proximity to the townsite (page 24).
For many people, such a natural experience is exactly why they live in, or travel to, national parks like Banff.
Those who gathered at Vermilion Lakes to witness this wolfpack behaviour, for the most part, are to be commended for not interfering in the situation.
Then there are the photographers who ruined it for everybody by insisting on closing the distance to the wild canines, prompting Parks personnel to take steps in keeping the animals out of the public eye …
