There are things reported almost daily that many of us simply do not understand. Almost every newscast talks about the cost of living, the cost of groceries and the need to control inflation. No one in this city, whether a homeowner or a renter, can ignore the increasing cost of utilities, and if you are a homeowner with a variable-rate mortgage, you may be caught in the interest rate trap of no longer being able to afford it.
Surely, then, our civic government must make every effort to control its spending and reduce costs. If we believe that the magic number to control inflation is two per cent annually, then under what scenario can council tell us that they want a nearly eight per cent increase in property taxes? How is it possible that council should make a decision that flies in the face of something the citizens of this entire country are trying to achieve?
We all would enjoy being able to set our family budget, and upon learning that our spending was going up by eight per cent we could go to our employer and ask for a corresponding salary increase. That would be nice, but it does not happen for us — nor should it at the city.
Years ago, I was driving in New York and saw what was then called the South Bronx, which some referred to as “the projects.” It was an area of intense density with a number of tightly placed buildings containing hundreds of small apartments. This area was a breeding ground for gangs, crime and drugs. The buildings were run down and, since those days in the early ’80s, most have been torn down and replaced with much lower-density residences. There are still frightening areas of New York, but many of the worst have been demolished.
Here in our city, I am watching established residential neighbourhoods being torn down by blocks, and being replaced with five- or six-storey or even higher buildings, with small apartments jammed together in what appears to be wood-frame buildings. In some cases, these buildings are being allowed without the traditional parking stall per unit. What will these buildings look like in 10 or 12 years? What will the streets that they are on look like in even less time?
In its quest for density, city council has thrown out the book on planning and zoning and seems to have said that anything goes, so long as we are providing places to live. Most of these are not even affordable — 900-square-foot condominiums are being sold for more than $400,000.
Almost daily I hear from people whose communities are about to be turned upside down by an abandonment of zoning regulations in the name of density. School sites such as the former Kingsland Elementary School and the former Viscount Bennett High School are subject to redevelopment, and no one who has reached out to me has confidence that these sites will be redeveloped with anything but high-density residential. Plunking big developments into the centre of established residential neighbourhoods, often eliminating green space, does not enhance the quality of life for the existing homeowners or people moving into the areas.
What we are dealing with is ideological politics. Whether it is abandoning zoning, excessively raising property taxes, spending millions on electric buses to address a questionable climate crisis or simply hoarding away funds to cover some future cost overrun on the Green Line LRT project, this council has to rein it in.
It is a sad state of affairs when homeowners are forced to struggle because their property taxes have risen ahead of inflation.
It is a very sad state of affairs when a settled and established community can lose its green spaces, traditional values and community spirit to social engineering. Somehow, the voices of the people must be heard and respected.
George Brookman is chair and ambassador of West Canadian Digital Imaging.
Brookman: City's rush to build housing carries risk of unintended consequences
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01.12.2023
There are things reported almost daily that many of us simply do not understand. Almost every newscast talks about the cost of living, the cost of groceries and the need to control inflation. No one in this city, whether a homeowner or a renter, can ignore the increasing cost of utilities, and if you are a homeowner with a variable-rate mortgage, you may be caught in the interest rate trap of no longer being able to afford it.
Surely, then, our civic government must make every effort to control its spending and reduce costs. If we believe that the magic number to control inflation is two per cent annually, then under what scenario can council tell us that they want a nearly eight per cent increase in property taxes? How is it possible that council should make a decision that flies in the face of something the citizens of this entire country are trying to achieve?
We all would enjoy being able to set our family budget, and upon learning that........
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