Council delays Leinster Court zoning
Councilor John Ferguson doesn't think Saint John Non-Profit Housing has done every single thing to placate the future neighbours of Leinster Court. Because of this he moved last night to delay the final reading for the development's rezoning application.
Councilors Ivan Cort, Bill Farren, Stephen Chase and Jay Young Chang agreed that this should be delayed.
Why?
So that city staff can meet again with SJNPH and the neighbours who oppose this project being built next to them, and try to accommodate the neighbours desires.
SJNPH met with neighbours at the request of city council last week. Still, some of the councillors thought the meeting would have been with city staff - even though they didn't ask city staff to participate or make it seem like that was a requirement for approval.
The neighbours of this projects own homes, some even own multiple "income" properties. They have the resources to fight against letting this low income housing in their neighbourhood.
City Councilors need to be on the side of those who need low income housing, but it seems Councilors Ferguson, Court, Farren, Chase and Young are far more concerned with doing everything possible (possible, not reasonable) to accommodate the property owning neighbours.
Of course the neighbours claim the project would be fine if it were built somewhere other than their back yards.
Some have proposed SJNPH build it near the city's old courthouse - a place they think is more suitable for housing for the poor.
3 comments:
Honesty, you have no idea about the whole story on this issue and as a responsible "blogger" you should evaluate any story from both sides.
Try talking to the neighbours first, before you make false statements.
Personally, I wanted to see a mixed townhouse project on that site so that FAMILIES could have a nice BACK YARD in which their children could play safely - something that SHNPH has certainly not made a goal of its developments.
At MOST - 25 "non-elderly singles" are to live in "Leinster Court" - if it was mixed townhouses similar to the ones down the road, it would be a beautiful area and would actually help those families to BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.
Also - interesting enough - NOT ONCE - NEVER - did any person who this project would directly benefit (the non-elderly singles) show up to council or PAC to put their support behind it because they needed it and wanted to live there.
Not Once.
If I was living in poverty, I'd be a little more involved in the process.
Probably not even worth splitting hairs over the fact that John Flood served on the SJNPH board, resigned from the board, and is not the contractor for the project. Far as I know, it never went to tender either.
That's weird eh? But no, that's no reason to be opposed to the manner in which the whole project has been conducted.
And there was no meeting - SJNPH walked away from the meeting because some city councilors showed up. SJNPH should not be held in high regard. Last building of theirs I saw, was missing a baseboard heater and the wire was still sticking out of the wall. Nice place for children to be residing eh? Last I checked, it had still been like that for many months.
There is even no sense in saying that you would support it even if you lived in one of those homes on King St. East eh? Can't look bad on the blog. Because you and I both know you can't dare form an opinion on someone else's situation and the love and labour they have invested in their homes. So don't you dare say that if you lived there, you'd be just as enthusiastic.
It's a sham to say so, and you know it.
If one were to point out what they think to be false statements I can check on them.
If I can't offer an answer right away, at least pointing these out will make your concern known.
I hope that future projects will come with greater neighbourhood buy-in.
I think it is important to offer housing solutions for all groups - focusing just on traditional "kids in the backyard" families would leave out some people who need homes.
I am concerned that unethical behavior is implied in regard to the contractor. I have not heard these claims before. Hopefully everything is above board.
What SJNPH project has all of the problems that you referenced?
I hope (and pray and expect) that I would be enthusiastic in greeting development in my neighbourhood.
I respect the fact that neighbours have concerns. This is something I grew into; originally I was unapologetically supportive of the development.
Now I realize that the neighbours would have preferred being consulted at an earlier juncture and that some (maybe most or all) are trying their best to be good community members while protecting their current lifestyle.
I still believe this project is good. Leinster Court will do more positive for the community than it will cause grief for the neighbours.
Hopefully SJNPH has learned from this and the neighbours are able to stay engaged in their community.
I've been away from the blog for a while and am disappointed to still see no response from this anonymous poster. (s)he brought up some interesting topics and I was hoping to get further detail on her/his concerns.
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