27 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Perfect, thanks for the link.

[zoomer]

I am in favour of supporting additional affordable rental units. As Mike indicates, many of the existing market rentals in James Bay are in the range of $800 - $1400/month. Hardly affordable, and I won't support building new rentals if that is what they are going to cost.

Bold text is my emphasis.

So, in today's world, you're saying that you're opposed to any new rental units in Victoria?!

Who will build rental units for under $800/month? Do you have a plan on how to build these units that will rent for less than $800? How many will be built and what's the time frame we're looking at if your plan is implemented (assuming you have a plan)? When was the last time a Co-op was built in Victoria? Or any meaningful amount of CRD housing?

Personally I would be thrilled to see new rental units in the $800 to $1,200 range as that would house middle class individuals or a couple of students could afford to share a place. As well, we all know that a higher vacancy rate helps moderate rental rates which is good for everyone at all ends of the scale.

[Mike K.]

Three words for rental rates: supply and demand.

[Joseph]

The way the federal election is shaping up, I think we can be pretty certain we won't see renewed national support in boosting rental housing here or anywhere else in Canada. That's why we're going to need to make sacrifices to encourage this kind of development. I agree that $800 isn't terribly affordable, but it's affordable enough to house our major workforce and consequently, our economy. It's the very least we need to commit to at this point - and it is a realistic objective from what I've heard of our independent/alternative development community.

[Barra]

Having been involved in land use planning in Victoria for over 25 years, as a neighbourhood land use committee member Advisory Planning Commission member (1980's and 2004-7) and City Councillor, I am quite familiar with the economics of construction. We have developers in this city who would like to build low cost housing, but given construction costs, could only do this at a loss. I don't think any reasonable person would expect them to personally subsidize such projects. The only way they can be built is with third party - i.e. government - subsidy. In fact, we have a number of such projects, built and/or managed by CRD Housing, Pacifica Housing, M'oakala Housing, and more recently, aging motels have been bought to be used for supported housing. The Independance Settlement Project www.sosdesign.ca is another excellent example of a project that would have been a low cost build on public land.
This is what we need to encourage and suport.

[Holden West]

The Independance Settlement Project www.sosdesign.ca is another excellent example of a project that would have been a low cost build on public land.
This is what we need to encourage and suport.

The ISP? Excellent example? In whose opinion? Even the creators of the ISP distanced themselves from it when just about every interest group said it was bad design and bad social planning.

[Mike K.]

We have developers in this city who would like to build low cost housing, but given construction costs, could only do this at a loss. I don't think any reasonable person would expect them to personally subsidize such projects. The only way they can be built is with third party - i.e. government - subsidy.

So why did the James Bay Neighbourhood Association object to plans to build three rental buildings as a legacy to the city? The proponent was willing to do away with profits for decades in order to build much needed housing on surface parking lots adjacent to his existing rental buildings in Jame Bay.

I fail to see the logic behind the statement that developers are unwilling to build rental housing when at least one developer came forward with plans for three rental buildings and admitted his group wouldn't realize profit from the projects for decades, but that they nonetheless wanted to leave a legacy for the city.

So even if a developer wants to build rentals, acknowledges and accepts the financial realities they present, the JBNA still sacks the proposal. Clearly there is a disconnect between the JBNA's goals and actions.

[Mike K.]

Pieta VanDyke made the following statement in Monday Magazine on October 29, 2008:

“I’m occasionally on Vibrant Victoria, but I don’t think there’s all that many people there, to tell you the truth.”

For the record, VibrantVictoria has a monthly readership of 10,000 individuals.