Editor:
Re: Banff ponders building own rental units (Nov. 20).
While it is admirable that the town feels the need to take the lead on this project, it is also misguided.
Instead of contemplating using public sector money to build staff accommodation for private sector staff they should be encouraging more businesses to build their own staff accommodation.
While providing rental accommodation to a few lucky people at an under market rate is a noble idea, it is unlikely to sit well with other Banff residents who currently pay the market rate for their rent or mortgage. Are they planning to subsidize all residents’ rents and mortgages at the same under market rate?
Who but the Town would even consider building an apartment building that would not at a minimum, break even? Expecting Banff taxpayers to cover any operating deficit for this proposed building through a special levy is unconscionable.
There are approximately 70 properties in Banff that are unoccupied for extended periods of time. Perhaps it’s time for Parks Canada to crack down on property owners who do not have their primary residence in Banff and who do not rent out their secondary Banff properties to locals. If these properties were made available for staff, it would put a huge dent in the housing deficit.
It’s also time for some staff to stop thinking of staff accommodation as their lifetime solution to living in Banff. While I understand that many staff will never be able to afford anything else, there are many well paid staff in Banff who have been living in staff accommodation for far too long.
Re: Banff looks at gondola feasibility (Nov. 20).
If The Banff Centre, Banff Springs Hotel, Rimrock Hotel, Banff Gondola and the Upper Hot Springs have even a modicum of interest in this cockamamie idea, then they should fund the feasibility study. The residents of Banff have better things to spend our hard earned tax dollars on.
Lori Dowling,
Banff
