Rosedale affordable housing gets OK
Project’s 16 units will move forward despite opposition from community
A controversial plan to spend $3.96 million of municipal and provincial funds to build 16 small affordablehousing units in Rosedale was given the green light by city council late Tuesday.
The affordable housing pitch in the upscale inner-city neighbourhood sparked concerns from residents, who worried about “the possible class of people that would be renting.”
Some asked the city if there are “reduced taxes for living next to affordable housing.”
The appropriate land use for the eight narrow lots at the end of six streets between 4A Street and 9th Street N.W., adjacent to the 16th Avenue sound wall, was approved in 2007, and Tuesday’s vote means the project’s nearly $4-million budget is now approved.
Lee Prevost, with the Calgary Housing Company, told councillors Tuesday night the creative proposal could serve as a model for future affordable-housing developments on remnant lots in Calgary — and he clarified the price tag does include the cost of land, a fact many neighbours and councillors didn’t know.
The $3.96 million budget will comprise $2.77 million in provincial dollars available through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative and $1.19 million in city funds.
Councillors debated the project for nearly two hours Tuesday night, and while Coun. Sean Chu spoke against the project, suggesting the city should instead sell the land and use the money to build somewhere closer to transit, Coun. Evan Woolley argued that not supporting the project would cast doubt on the city’s commitment to affordable housing.
The project was ultimately moved forward in an 11-3 vote, with councillors Chu, Shane Keating and Joe Magliocca voting against the plans.
During debate, area councillor Druh Farrell spoke about the “disheartening” comments made by neighbours during the engagement process and listed off many other communities in her ward that have ultimately welcomed affordable housing.
“That’s the way it’s supposed to be,” she said.
At a July committee meeting in which councillors recommended moving the project forward, two community members emphasized that virulent views gathered during public feedback — that one councillor dubbed “insane bigotry”— didn’t represent the wider community, who are against the plans for different reasons, including cost and the fact families wouldn’t fit in the small units.
One of those members, Tom Spear, had a power-point presentation and speech ready to deliver to council on behalf of neighbours Tuesday, but Spear was not allowed to present to council because the matter wasn’t a public hearing item.
Coun. Andre Chabot attempted to allow the presentation, but his efforts were voted down by council.
The eight two-unit developments on the edge of the community would be managed by the cityowned Calgary Housing Company, which currently has about 4,000 households waiting for an affordable place to live.
With council’s green light Tuesday, the city will now move forward with the project and begin consulting neighbours about the design of the houses.