Some residents of Akinsdale are volunteering for the Aurora Place Habitat for Humanity build, baking cookies for the volunteers and keeping a watchful eye out on the construction site, signs much of the tension over the development has abated, says Alfred Nikolai, Habitat president and CEO.
Nikolai gave Mayor Nolan Crouse and Couns. Cathy Heron and Malcolm Parker a tour of the site, located at 70 Arlington Drive, Monday morning, followed by a gaggle of Edmonton broadcast media.
Nikolai said many members of the community have now warmed to the once-controversial project.
“We are so pleased with how this community, not just St. Albert but also Akinsdale, has embraced us,” said Nikolai.
When finished by the spring of 2013, 30 families will live on the site that once belonged to the St. Albert Protestant School Board. Eight homes will be ready later this year with another 12 by Christmas. By next spring, the last 10 homes should be finished.
“We’re proud we’ve got 30 new families moving into a community that will welcome them,” said Crouse.
The proposed build, finally approved by council in 2010, galvanized the community, especially Akinsdale. The public hearing on the development permit required five days to accommodate 100 speakers. At one point residents were invited to attend charettes that gave them more public input to the build.
In the end, council passed a motion for 24 homes, which Habitat said was unsustainable. City council subsequently called a snap special council meeting and passed the development permit for 30 homes. The entire ordeal left St. Albert with a regional black eye with accusations of NIMBYism.
Crouse said he was sure the community would turn out in droves and said the surrounding neighbourhood would welcome the 30 families with open arms.
“There isn’t even any question in my mind that the entire community and this neighbourhood will embrace this,” Crouse said. “My guess is there will be block parties and welcoming gifts so I don’t think we’re going to see any issue whatsoever.”
Crouse admitted the ordeal was difficult for the community, but the council of the day followed through on its commitment to provide more affordable housing to St. Albert residents.
“I think for the most part the controversy was more localized,” Crouse said. “There were legitimate concerns and they were addressed. Now, across the community we received a lot of support. Even in this community we’ve received a lot of support.”
Besides the occasional instance of vandalism, the build has proceeded as planned, although the weather has been a factor that has set construction behind, Nikolai said.
“We had a very slow start because of the wet weather we had last year,” Nikolai said. He added the warm winter helped them catch up. “I wouldn’t say we’re totally caught up but we’re almost caught up and if everything goes according to plan, we will be caught up.”
But, Nikolai said, the not-for-profit could always use more volunteers. While 500 volunteers are set to pound nails in July, Nikolai said they could use as many as 900.
“I am asking the community, if you have never participated in a Habitat build or enjoyed volunteering for someone else, it is a wonderful thing to do,” Nikolai said. Volunteers can register online at www.hfh.org.
