The need for more affordable housing made for an opening act to Monday's Prince Rupert City Council session, as Mr. Paul Legace an advocate of affordable housing in the community spoke mainly to the topic of the proposed Lax Kw'alaams housing development on 11th Avenue East.
Mr. Legace, who is a coordinator and Poverty Law advocate at the Prince Rupert Unemployed Action Centre, read from much of the preamble to his online petition signed by 579 residents of the community, which made note of the ongoing housing crisis and the need for housing.
His presentation to Council stressed what those who signed the petition say would be the positive aspects of the development, addressing some of the concerns expressed about the housing location and how the project will meet the bar set by Metlakatla with their Seniors housing facility on Eight Avenue East.
Calling out NIMBYism and racism, Mr. Legace called the development a win-win for everyone in the area and how affordable housing should be spread out around the community.
The housing advocate noted how it was through the City's efforts of offering of 11th Avenue East for one dollar for sixty years a positive thing by the municipal government and called for Council to support the rezoning process request and to encourage other developers to create other housing options elsewhere.
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| Paul Legace spoke on housing at Monday's council session |
From a practical standpoint, surrounding property values should increase and the neighbourhood becomes more desirable its a win-win situation for everyone We also believe that affordable housing units should be spread throughout the city's various neighbourhoods to unite us all as a community.
As it stands right now 11th Avenue East is the site that the City has agreed to lease sixty years for one dollar, making it possible for the proponent to even build this project, We would like to thank the city for stepping up and facing this housing crisis that we are in" -- Paul Legace speaking on behalf of the concerned residents of Prince Rupert at the Monday night Council session.
Mr. Legace also turned the forum over to one of the signatories of the petition, Tina Steppler who recounted some of her personal experiences and the struggles that she and her spouse have had trying to find suitable accommodation and the need for the City to encourage housing stock for those with nowhere to go.
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| Ms. Tina Steppler speaking to Council on Monday |
Ms. Steppler also challenged the area residents near the 11th Avenue east site to not go against a community together and to replace what has been lost, noting how the units proposed would go towards such a possibility.
Mayor Brain observed how he was seeing a theme of the particular project, noting that it would be a subject of Public Hearing and invited Mr. Legace and Ms. Steppler to return to the process when it resumes once it is scheduled to ensure that their voices are heard.
The Mayor also noted outlined how Council is tasked with keeping an open mind on all proposals that they receive.
"We are hearing you loud and clear, we know that this is a massive challenge for our community ... Council in General is supporting housing initiatives across the spectrum and we've been partnering with different agencies and different groups to ensure that we get as much stock on line. I think current numbers right now over the next year to two years we're looking at almost 300 units in queue for Prince Rupert. That goes from market housing, all the way to affordable housing many of which will be BC Housing units too" -- Mayor Lee Brain on housing at Monday's council session
He also called attention to the city's interim housing policies and have more work ahead of them, noting how Mr. Legace has shared his ideas with Council previous. Adding that this was the kind of engagement and forum that Council is looking for and invited him to speak to any issue at any time that he wishes to.
As for the progress for the 11th Avenue East project, he relayed that Council would have official comment on the project at the Public hearing which is also when they will make a decision on it.
Speaking to the petition that Mr. Legace has organized the Mayor noted that if there are that many folks who believe in the project he would love to have that petition officially submitted at the hearing.
Mr. Legace closed off his comments by noting how he is encouraged by what Council is doing, acknowledging that neighbours in the area have a right to share their opinions on the project, but that he wanted to do this because a lot of people support the proposal and he wanted to bring those voices to Council and encourage them.
The Mayor also took an opportunity to share how the City has changed the process for future developments where the communication to the community will take place prior to Council even receiving the project, a shift in focus that he believes will change how the projects are perceived by the public and clear up any misconceptions.
"Ultimately Council, if it's a rezoning project, its, the decision's on us in the end, and whether or not a group on Facebook comes forward and says their against something, or they're for something; at the end of the day Council will always weigh the entirety of every voice and then after the public hearing once we collect all the feedback, we will make a decision.
I want folks to understand that Council is always going to be open to hearing all feedback and then we will make a decision on that. It's not about if there's more or less against something, its about whether or not we believe as elected officials who represent this community what's good or in the best interest of this community
Right now, we all know that housing is a massive need in this community, on all sides, and so we want to find a balanced approach to getting it done and to make sure that everyones heard in the process and so these comments that you are bringing to us today is hugely important for us in our decision making process" -- Mayor Lee Brain on the process of housing consideration at City Council
City Council has not announced the date as of yet, as to when the subject property will go to Public Hearing.
You can review the full presentation to Council from the City's Video Archive, it leads off the Monday session.
For more notes on Monday's Council session see our Council Timeline feature here, a wider overview on past Council Discussion themes see our archive page here.
Some further notes on the 11th Avenue East proposal can be reviewed below:
April 26, 2021 -- Affordable Housing and community poverty themes a likely topic for tonight's Committee of the Whole session
April 9, 2021 -- With late notice, a lost opportunity for expanded consultation on proposed housing development for 11th Avenue East
March 15 -- Consultation feedback program underway for proposed 11th Avenue East housing plans
March 5 -- Petition looks to stop progress on rezoning for 11th Avenue Housing proposal
February 3 -- Review process for 11th Avenue East housing proposal set to move forward
November 25 2020 -- First tentative steps towards rezoning of land on 11th Avenue East for proposed apartment project underway
November 23 2020 -- City Council to speak to rezoning themes for proposed Lax Kw'alaams housing development on East Side
November 13 2020 -- Lax Kw'alaams announces site for 60 unit apartment development in Prince Rupert
September 3 2020 -- City sets Road Closure consultation process in motion for Edward/Albert area residents
August 28 2020-- East Side Road Closure makes for prelude for potential housing plans
June 2 2020 -- New Elders Housing complex in Lax Kw'alaams accepting applications for residency
May 1 2020 -- Location, Location, Location ... Mayor Brain makes the call for an expansion on housing in Prince Rupert
December 13 2019 -- Collaboration the focus for Prince Rupert 2030 announcements, setting the template for the future as program of civic renewal moves forward
November 18 2019 -- Lax Kw'alaams Council update notes advances in transportation, housing and infrastructure planning
A wider overview of Housing themes in Prince Rupert can be explored here.
First and foremost, I hope Ms. Steppler finds long term accommodation soon.
ReplyDeleteSecond, boasting about 300 units in the queue isn't good enough anymore, especially in a second term. What stage are they at, when can families expect to walk into their new homes?
Third, Paul Lagace's heart is in the right place, but his unconscious bias is showing. His rhetoric is quickly becoming part of the problem, not part of the solution.
The city has failed miserably on this file. They are now playing catch up and will vote anything through. Rezoning change zoning to suit their program in spite of a proposal for a commercial venture on the property. It is currently zoned commercial.
ReplyDeleteHow do they expect any private developer to work with them if this is the route they choose to go. It is no wonder developers run when they hear Prince Rupert.
Well perhaps you may have some inside information that the rest of us don't have, but the last rezoning note from Council at the end of 2020 had the rezoning listed as that of R2; with a proposed shift to RM2 for the use as an apt building, did not hear mention of any potential commercial use for the land though.
DeleteStill there could be other uses offered up that the public were not of aware of as this process began.
Thanks for the observations on the housing situation though, they are worth an addition to the ongoing dialogue around town.
NCR
$1 for a 60 year land lease on 1.4 city owned acres.
DeleteWho made the decision on those terms?
Will there be other land lease fire sales on city owned lots to developers?
Why was SD 52 made to pay $90 000 for the lot beside the golf course instead of a lease agreement like the one above?
So many questions...