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Interesting to see the following two articles posted today, serving as an interesting juxtaposition and a reminder of why I think having a #WRYIMBY perspective is important.
The first speaks to council's discussion yesterday on affordable housing. "...growth is only addressing the needs of the top end of the market, and the need for a wider variety of housing is growing." " https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/09/02/kitcheners-housing-strategy-would-use-city-lands-reduced-fees-and-red-tape-to-spur-the-development-of-affordable-units.html
Continued, "Kitchener needs 450 units of transitional and supportive housing for people who are homeless; 5,000 community housing units for people with low incomes; and 9,300 new affordable rental housing units at monthly rents under $1,300."
And then this article that looks at a recent 12 storey development proposal that was voted down at council originally but now has the go-ahead as a 6 storey denser development, after going to provincial tribunal. https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/09/02/full-approval-for-compromise-expected-at-oct-9-hearing.html?utm_source=twitter&source=wr_record&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=&utm_campaign_id=&utm_content=
From the article, “The homeowners in the neighbourhood feel as though the city they love and contribute taxes to does not care about them,” Lieberman said. “They feel powerless to stop what’s coming. A number of them are planning to move.”
Reasons cited in the article for that reaction: shade, traffic, and density. Mayor Jaworsky notes, “Intensification is consistent with the public desire to stop spreading onto farmland. Unfortunately, it means changes in the neighbourhoods.”
I would add that if we truly want to see more affordable housing and varied housing options, that we need to understand that our neighbourhoods will need to change and transform to better accommodate more/new residents. #WRYIMBY
