Letters Nov. 20: Favouring developers; yokels did a great job The Times Colonist Nov 20, 2024 1:08 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message U.S.
president-elect Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) Listen to this article 00:09:19 A city for developers, or for the rest of us Re: “Victoria exceeds first-year housing target,” Nov. 15.
The story points out that the city is ahead of its target for building new homes but falling short on affordable and family-size units. This happens whenever housing construction is left to the private sector, because developers make more money from luxury building than from affordable homes. City councils and planners should be ensuring the right provision.
We can see this playing out this week. On Thursday, council will discuss a proposal to change the zoning of a lot in James Bay to enable construction of a 14-storey tower that would dominate the area and provide mainly high-cost investment apartments, plus a few expensive townhouses. The development has been proposed by Geric Construction.
There have been many letters setting out objections to the Geric proposal. It is opposed by the city’s planners, the James Bay Neighbourhood Association and the great majority of residents. An unusually high number of residents have written to council stating their opposition because they want the site used for affordable family accommodation that fits in with the other buildings around the area.