We need to protect neighbourhoods for families

Amother of two young children shared her opinions about “white haired elites” and their overwhelming reaction against development (“Stopping new development hurts young families,” comment, March 24).

It is easy to lay blame on the residents of certain neighbourhoods, promote a stereotype of why they react the way they do and point fingers at mayor and council. It is also very unfair.

I find it interesting that she names Cordova Bay, Oak Bay and Rockland as arguably the best neighbourhoods to raise a family. Two of those locations have been vocal against Abstract’s development proposals. She does not blame developers for the very problem she has stated.

I am surprised that she did not mention Fernwood, James Bay, Vic West, Esquimalt, Chinatown or Fairfield, the latter of which is the No. 1 destination for families and for investment. With investment comes Vacation Rentals by Owner, AirBnB and other types of transient rentals that earn great profit for owners to the detriment of citizens of Victoria who need long-term rental units.

Victoria’s net immigration is a minimal one per cent per year, consistently below the city’s own forecasts (despite what developers and local governments say). The housing shortage is being caused in part by investors, some foreign, who diversify their portfolios with real estate.

How big a factor is this? We don’t really know, but it’s probably a sizable one. Until this is solved, merely building more condos is not going to solve any shortage. In fact, insofar as Victoria becomes increasingly recognized as an investor destination, building more supply will probably just result in scaled-up demand.

What are the reasons people want to live in Cordova Bay, Oak Bay or Rockland? Do they want space, greenery and safe streets for their children to play on?

Some information people would want to know if they choose Rockland: Rockland isn’t dominated by “white-haired elites.” Only 44 per cent of residents in Rockland own their homes, while 56 per cent rent. The reason I adamantly oppose over-development in this neighbourhood is for families like hers seeking a place for their children to grow up and play. Many of the developments recently approved and under construction are not family-friendly.

Imagine fulfilling a dream about buying in Rockland and purchasing one of the units at Abstract’s proposed development at 1201 Fort St. (one that our community opposes for many reasons). Imagine 12 oversized cookie-cutter townhomes taller than the residential homes in the neighbourhood, surrounded by two oversized condo buildings that dominate everything else nearby.

Imagine the only greenery you will see is the potted trees that will replace the urban forest that currently exists on the former Truth Centre property. Imagine looking out of your cramped space to see the Rockland you currently know.

So yes, as concerned neighbours and residents of Victoria, we do bring up points about traffic, as we should. Would parents like their children to walk to school safely or play on their street without worrying about the dramatically increased number of cars because of that development?

Would they feel good about paying almost a million dollars for a townhome, or would they prefer to buy the more affordable option of a condo with only one bedroom for $400,000? Do they want a home where their children don’t have a backyard or a front yard to play in? Or perhaps they think it is safe to let their children play on the rooftop garden?

So, I say the same words as the writer did: Enough is enough! Future owners of these properties are being sold a dream and not a reality.

I hope that future buyers would want to hear cautionary words from the people who live in these neighbourhoods and why they are concerned. I invite them to learn the facts from their prospective future community and not to base opinions on the promises of developers.

We can find a happy medium wherein we get new, respectful, gradual development, but we won’t if developers push to maximize scale and prices. We urge the writer to fight alongside us to find the affordable housing she seeks for her family.

Because one day, she might have to fight against developers who will want to change the very neighbourhood she wants to buy into now.