Last week at the Canada Awards for Excellence, a panelist told us about how difficult it has been to get an affordable housing project off the ground.
Jon Love explained that it took five years to get approval for an affordable apartment complex. One full year was taken up by discussions over the number of parking spaces. There’s a will, he says, but not always a way.
“If you build an apartment building, a third of the cost is due to taxes. While the policy maker might say that affordable housing is important, once you get going, all of the barriers are put in front of you. Parking, for instance, is the most expensive part of an apartment building. If we have a site across from transit, we’re wondering why we would need so much parking. With affordable housing, we think a lot of our customers won’t have a car. Various rules and regulations, including parking, in addition to the breathtaking tax load, are frustrating the ability to deliver affordable housing.” ~Jon Love
There are other issues involved in the process as well, including not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) concerns, and people with incomes too low to even afford so-called “affordable” places. The rush to sign up to AirBnB ate up a lot of rental spaces. It goes on. But it’s clear that governments at all levels create the biggest barriers even as they claim to be pushing for solutions.
A Local Solution
Recently, I had the opportunity to find out about a wonderful project in St. Thomas, designed to help ease a long list of people waiting for affordable housing. Project Tiny Hope is the brainchild of a St. Thomas builder, Doug Tarry Homes, and the YWCA. About a dozen other local builders have donated people power, supplies, and their time. It’s a beautiful thing. Almost 70 people will move into these little, completely outfitted houses made to the same standards as any other new homes, with beautiful finishes.
My full article in Lifestyle Magazine is here – Tiny Homes Yield Big Benefits.
Making it Part of Construction Approvals
In South Los Angeles, Costco is opening a huge, new store. Along with it, Costco has built its first ever apartment building on top. It includes 800 apartments – 184 of them dedicated to low income renters. Mixed use builds are very trendy. They’re handy for occupants and bring foot traffic to store owners.
When a conglomerate asks for permission to build, why not follow this lead? Make the company invest in the community as well as take income from it. This Costco build includes play structures, secure parking, gardens and more.
Winter is coming. The thought of anyone without a warm, safe place to sleep is just unfathomable. We’re a rich country but we have our priorities mixed up at times. Our Premier would rather put cyclists’ lives at risk by removing bike lanes in Toronto than house those under his watch who are sleeping outside. Feed people. Give them shelter. It truly is the very least someone should expect from their fellow Canadians.
The idea to build apartments above buildings like Costco is brilliant! It makes so much sense to utilize that space for housing, especially in these days where land is scarce due to monstrous homes being built on fifty foot lots.
I completely agree with your last paragraph, Lisa. Every winter for as long as I can remember, my heart hurts when I think of someone having nowhere to keep warm. When I get into bed on those cold nights, my mind wonders why I am so fortunate, and why another human being is having to suffer. It bothers me…a lot. When I hear of a politician throwing lavish dinners or spending foolishly, I always say to my husband, “think of all the families that could have been fed with that money.” I know…I think too much.
Thanks for writing this blog today, Lisa. I feel better knowing there are 800 apartments available for people and, it gives me hope that other stores will follow suit.
It is a hopeful story, for sure. We have to start doing things differently if we’re going to make a difference. I’ve never understood why feeding and housing people hasn’t been our society’s top priority. Oh right – greed. 🙁
Costco is brilliant!!
I didn’t realize that you could donate to Tiny Homes. Just donated to them.
We need to pressure more companies to follow Costco’s and Doug Tarry’s lead. It takes a village. Let’s be that village.
Lisa, thank you for this important article.
Nancy, thank YOU for making a donation!