Comments on: On Affordable Housing http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109 Thoughts on Politics, Technology and the world around us Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:12:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bob in Ottawa http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109/comment-page-1#comment-173 Bob in Ottawa Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:29 +0000 http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109#comment-173 One important thing that municipalities can do is to streamline planning approval eliminate excessive development charges ($30K per unit in Ottawa now, before you even put a shovel in the ground, so even the smallest, meanest unit is too expensive for a modest single-wage earner) and allow enough zoning flexibility to make it possible to build small but affordable units. Toronto has done this (Ottawa has not) and as a result there is a good choice of small but pleasant brand-new condos with good facilities and security in Toronto for $150-200K, sometimes even less. This takes some pressure off the rental housing stock and indeed makes many more units available for rent because many are purchased as investments.<BR/><BR/>I agree that housing projects are definitely not the way to go. There are buckets of them here in Ontario (a sorry legacy of the 60s and 70s) and they are all wretched places that trap too many people in a cycle of misery. One important thing that municipalities can do is to streamline planning approval eliminate excessive development charges ($30K per unit in Ottawa now, before you even put a shovel in the ground, so even the smallest, meanest unit is too expensive for a modest single-wage earner) and allow enough zoning flexibility to make it possible to build small but affordable units. Toronto has done this (Ottawa has not) and as a result there is a good choice of small but pleasant brand-new condos with good facilities and security in Toronto for $150-200K, sometimes even less. This takes some pressure off the rental housing stock and indeed makes many more units available for rent because many are purchased as investments.

I agree that housing projects are definitely not the way to go. There are buckets of them here in Ontario (a sorry legacy of the 60s and 70s) and they are all wretched places that trap too many people in a cycle of misery.

]]> By: hunter http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109/comment-page-1#comment-172 hunter Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:29 +0000 http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109#comment-172 We live in an area where low cost housing townhouses/apartments are mixed in with single family homes. The only reason I can see that our crime rate is still very low in the area, is because of the schools, all the kids go to the same school. Kids make friends with anyone, never based on income, so we have a lot of interaction between low, middle and high income groups because of our kids. Our schools are the answer, every time I walk into my youngest's, it's like a tiny UN, but in this case everyone gets along, no one has an agenda, it's just kids being kids, making friends. <BR/><BR/>When we first moved into the area, I was worried that there would be a high turnover rate in the apartments, leading to some instability in the school, this has never happened. <BR/><BR/>Another important point is that, the apartments are only 3 story, not massive developments, this means that single home owners are not overrun by apartment tenants. <BR/><BR/>It works in my area, which is one of the more desired areas (southwest)in Edmonton.<BR/><BR/>No one group overwhelms any other, put up a 5000 unit low income complex, and we have problems. We live in an area where low cost housing townhouses/apartments are mixed in with single family homes. The only reason I can see that our crime rate is still very low in the area, is because of the schools, all the kids go to the same school. Kids make friends with anyone, never based on income, so we have a lot of interaction between low, middle and high income groups because of our kids. Our schools are the answer, every time I walk into my youngest’s, it’s like a tiny UN, but in this case everyone gets along, no one has an agenda, it’s just kids being kids, making friends.

When we first moved into the area, I was worried that there would be a high turnover rate in the apartments, leading to some instability in the school, this has never happened.

Another important point is that, the apartments are only 3 story, not massive developments, this means that single home owners are not overrun by apartment tenants.

It works in my area, which is one of the more desired areas (southwest)in Edmonton.

No one group overwhelms any other, put up a 5000 unit low income complex, and we have problems.

]]> By: Simeon Drakich http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109/comment-page-1#comment-171 Simeon Drakich Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:29 +0000 http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109#comment-171 Never allow low income housing as it attracts undesirables.I live in Windsor ON. where low income housing is almost the norm and their neighbourhoods are avoided. Never allow low income housing as it attracts undesirables.I live in Windsor ON. where low income housing is almost the norm and their neighbourhoods are avoided.

]]> By: Duane Gillies http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109/comment-page-1#comment-170 Duane Gillies Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:29 +0000 http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109#comment-170 There were always plenty of low income dwellings available before Trudeau changed the income tax act in 1972. Before that time high earners, Drs., Lawyers etc. could invest in revenue properties and write losses off against their high incomes. This was plenty of incentive to build low income housing so the supply was always adequate. Since Trudeau's liberals fixxed it we have had low income housing problems. Leave it to Liberals to screw things up. There were always plenty of low income dwellings available before Trudeau changed the income tax act in 1972. Before that time high earners, Drs., Lawyers etc. could invest in revenue properties and write losses off against their high incomes. This was plenty of incentive to build low income housing so the supply was always adequate. Since Trudeau’s liberals fixxed it we have had low income housing problems. Leave it to Liberals to screw things up.

]]> By: Ira http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109/comment-page-1#comment-169 Ira Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:29 +0000 http://www.technicalbard.com/archives/109#comment-169 Interesting solution. British Columbia already does this. Interesting solution. British Columbia already does this.

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