I have been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity and I am a resident of Akinsdale. I would like to single out those who represented our city in approaching Habitat for Humanity in 2007 to build on 70 Arlington Drive – turns out to be a stroke of genius for which Apollo, the developer, should be especially thankful.
By linking up with Habitat and meeting our city’s vision for affordable housing, they are going to be able to put a 58-unit high-density/no yard development on less than three acres of land, a proposal that would never have passed the starting gate had they not been given a borrowed halo to wear. We should also give a little credit to the school board, which now has a hefty little payout coming their way for land that they never developed. In fact I’m wondering if they ever intended to take open bids for a church, even though this was the compromise the residents of this area agreed to rezone for and petitioned for in good faith.
In reading the report to our city councillors, I cannot help but take note of the biased way the report is presenting the “facts” about Akinsdale. Apparently, comparing the percentage of green space in the different areas of St. Albert must not have been favourable to their case so they included the arenas and re-labelled it recreational space. When in their favour they pounce on our bylaws as maybe being too restrictive in comparison to Edmonton (number of parking spaces) but go mute on the municipal protection laws that Edmonton has to protect its residents from this type of carte-blanche infringement on school-zoned land. In addition, the developer is requesting “Direct Control” so they can subvert any precedent setting bylaws now in place to protect our citizens. This is how they are able to stuff 16 more units than the maximum allowed for townhouse units for this space of land.
For the working families who are hoping to buy into this development, in reviewing their plans let me show you how Apollo would describe you. You only drive one and half cars, you don’t want any yard and you have no problem with your children playing near drainage ditches. You have no seasonal clothing or equipment such as bikes and barbecues needing storage space. You are not aware of the financial impact a balloon mortgage will have on your future, which is how it is being sold as “affordable.” You will never need help from an emergency response vehicle because that lane may be claimed for parking spaces.
Fear not if you miss this opportunity to live as a sardine. The Apollo/Habitat team has calculated that this project will make them $3,720,000 from their “affordable” balloon mortgage financing and they plan to use this money to make more clones of this project throughout St. Albert.
If this project goes through, just a neighbourly heads-up — start saving for the property taxes for each of these lovely dream homes which has already been calculated around $3,000 a unit. That’s why some at city hall are ready to welcome you with open hands.
Nina Carpenter, St. Albert
