Saskatoon residents are expressing their frustrations over several potential zoning amendments that aim to increase housing density in established neighborhoods.
In order to qualify for $41 million in federal affordable housing funding, the City was asked to legalize up to four units on large enough properties city wide and legalize up to four stories within 800 metres of planned rapid transit routes, among several other requirements.
Greystone neighborhood resident Peggy Schmeiser says several Canadian cities refuse to implement similar programs, and for good reason. She encourages Saskatoon to do the same.
“Any strategy that overlooks the social, economic, cultural, and health risks to residents for approximately $10-$13 million a year…at the demonstrable long-term expense of our city, is not a strong foundation on which to build.”
She says city councilors in Oakville, Windsor, Mississauga, and Calgary have raised similar concerns over the federal funding policy.
Schmeiser believes a ‘made-in-Saskatoon’ solution can be found to provide affordable housing and encourages the City to renegotiate the funding criteria with the federal government.
Jessica Olver, another resident in the Greystone neighborhood, says the project puts Saskatoon neighborhoods under threat.
“Beyond the lack of suitable surrounding infrastructure, greenspace, safety concerns, or the potential detriment to our neighbourhood character, the constant uncertainty of whether someone is erecting a four-story apartment next door fosters ongoing unstable and stressful environments for current and future residents.”
Olver says this will discourage people from moving to Saskatoon and force current residents out, which will achieve the opposite of the densification goal.
“Newcomers like myself and my new friend from Nigeria won’t be attracted here. People like us won’t come or will leave the city to perimeter cities like Martensville or Warman, or leave the province as a whole, which is the opposite of the goal.”
A third Greystone resident, Brett Williams, says it was a lack of community engagement that left the public with a sense of suspicion and distrust over the project.
“We have not been involved. Communication has been surprisingly lacking…in terms of the experience of citizens, it’s come out of nowhere.”
He says he is a big fan of densification, but he wishes the city would take the individual needs of each neighbourhood into consideration, as opposed to the current ‘cookie cutter’ method.
The second public information session regarding these bylaw changes happens tomorrow from 4:00pm-8:00pm at the Saskatoon Fieldhouse.
Of the $41 million, $15 million has been allocated to preparing four city-owned sites before they are sold to become lots for affordable housing.
The four sites are located at 2401 Broadway Avenue, 155 3rd Avenue, 25 25th Street East, and 1635 McKercher Drive.
The City’s finance committee has approved that a request for proposals be sent out to potential affordable housing providers and market builders.
There are eight items the City plans to use for evaluation criteria as part of the open market public offering. They include the status of organization, their non-market housing management experience, their development/construction experience, ability to leverage financial support, partnerships, project details including number and type of units being offered, long-term operating strategy, and proposed purchase price.
