I write this as all I read is letters against the Arlington Drive development. While most letters start off by saying how much they support Habitat for Humanity and this isn’t a case of NIMBY, I really find that hard to believe.
Clearly there has been objection to any proposal on that land since 2000. I guess seniors would have brought too much crime to the development that was quashed in 2005. Your neighbourhood has parks and Red Willow Trails so saying you aren’t treated like the rest of St. Albert is false. As for losing your green space to the ring road, any good homebuyer would have seen that was in the works for 30 years so it shouldn’t be a surprise.
And for those that say that it should be in another neighbourhood in St. Albert, please tell me where it would go? Last time I checked school boards don’t have land in other neighbourhoods for sale that could house this development. That land is only a green space because the school board decided not to build a school there. It is not a permanent park.
I only hope that all those so opposed to their precious property values diminishing are never in need of low income housing like the people that will move into this project. Perhaps if you want to keep opposing any project that is proposed for that land, maybe Akinsdale residents can all pitch in and buy the land so nothing ever will be built there. That is the only thing that seems to make those residents happy. Bungalows weren’t acceptable, Assisted seniors’ living wasn’t acceptable and now Habitat isn’t acceptable. Please tell me, what is acceptable?
Gary Harving, St. Albert
