This Week March 14, 1990. Page M pits eee cere TOP STORY Continued from Page 14 On Jan. 27, the Neighbourhood Envi- ronment Committee of James Bay and the James Bay Community Association managed to have a proposal for the construction of four rental units in James Bay rejected by city council. The community was against the destruction of an historic house, built in 1907, for the construction of rental units. To make way for more rental units, whe city is chang- ing zoning laws in single family resi- dential areas. These zoning changes will in- crease the density of the community as apartment buildings are al- wed to be built. I example, on Fo%,13, the city J. ed the den- sity of the 2400 block near Bay ‘and Douglas by al- lowing a seven- storey apartment block to be built — an increase in den- sity of 73 per cent. ,. In some areas of . James Bay the number of multi- family units al- lowed is being cut back to protect the community. The James Bay com- “munity plan rec- ommends a ceiling to the increased density in the com- nunity. ~ - “We don’t think we should increase the density,” said Ball because the committee feels there is enough traffic and congestion in the area.” In many neighborhoods, there is fear that higher density housing will create RhagZ PALNG | COURTS ORGHEST ei oTRA JOCK DUNBAR BARITONE problems. Increased traffic on streets, noise pollution, and towering apart- ment. buildings destroying the street- scape of single family residential areas are major concerns to residents throughout Greater Victoria. Increasing urbanization will cause more traffic congestion on city streets. Busier roads create more noise and air pollution. The rezoning of -a site for rental units on Shel- bourne Street was denied recently due to residents’ concerns about in- creased traffic and parking problems. A group known as the Greater Vic- toria Electric Rail- way Society has a solution to the traffic congestion with a proposal for a light rail transit system. Bill Mac- Donald, president, argues that the LRT system will be “an environ- mentally, economi- cally safe solu- tion.” : Light rail transit would be safe, clean, quiet, pollu- serve the needs of seniors and handi- capped persons said MacDonald. “The purpose of it is to get people out of their cars, and onto the LRT,’ said MacDonald. He says the group has more than 85 per cent of the gen- eral public supporting the project. As the amount of rental housing outside. the Greater Victoria area in- creases, there will also be a greater need for a train system that can serve tion-free and can - those areas better than a highway said MacDonald. The group is presently trying to lobby the Ministry of Transportation and Highways to support the project. There is limited land which can be utilized for construction of affordable housing causing politicians and hous- ing groups to offer creative new ideas to meet the demand. Robin Blencoe, Victoria MLA and housing critic for the NDP, has a comprehensive strategy to encour- age home owner- ship opportunities. ~ Once in power, one of the objectives would be to en- courage people to renovate their homes by provid- ing low interest loans that would help the homeow- ners make their dwellings more en- ergy-efficient, and make structural improvements. The NDP also wants to reduce the demolli- tion of rental housing, and bring in a rental mediator to protect tenants’ rights. Assistance would be given to convert single family homes, industrial and commercial property into afforda- ble rental housing. These programs would be “self-financing” said Blencoe. “Money generated from housing would go back into housing” such as a “housing innovations program” that would look for new ways to solve the housing needs of British Columbians said Blencoe. : Walter Block, a senior research fellow at the Fraser Institute and a member of the B.C. Association of Professional Economists and the Canadian Econom- ic Association suggested the elimina- tion of the Agricultural Land Reserve in an effort to allow for more land for rental housing. : Blencoe describes this action as a “desperate ploy” to make up for the Socred’s housing failures. Blencoe stat- SIGN OF THE TIMES ed that the ALR protects farm land which will be a precious commodity in : the future. Citizens for Affordable Housing sug- gests that land can be preserved by renovating the second and third floors ‘of empty buildings into rental units. This is one possible way to increase the number of available rental units said Albert. The group would 1 also like to see the legalization of ille- gal secondary suites in Victoria. There are || hundreds of these so called secondary suites which pro- vide inexpensive, accommodation for many renters. Another inter- esting method for saving land would see homeowners | using their own | back yards for sin- gle housing units known as Granny flats. Granny flats are small, portable houses that can be set up in a backyard to accommodate a single resident. The flats have been used in Australia suc- cessfully: “If it works, then it should be ex- plored,” said Albert. Greater Victoria residents and mem- bers of civic government will have to examine some creative alternatives if it is going to resolve its housing crunch. The belief that we are merely going through some minor growing pains which will soon go away has to change. The problem is here to stay as long as action isn’t taken to resolve it, said Hilary Stewardson. Residents are be- ing encouraged to participate in the housing problem by expressing their concerns, offering suggestions, and al- lowing higher density housing into their communities. By being active in the housing problem, resident’s sense of “community will grow and the charac- ter of the neighborhood will continue to thrive,” said Albert. We've invited the world, but Victorid comes first. Victoria 1 Conference Centre SAT. MARCH 24 - 8 p.m. B TCKET LOCATIONS: Inws Ba Mci?l n. Sinfonia Records. 1 iliside Mall. FEBRUARY 1 10 MARCH 31, 1990 Enjoy all the amenities, including European-style Dining Room, - Trophy’s Club & Bar and the Grand Pacific Athletic Club, one of Canada’s premier athletic facilities. EH WHAT. B.C. Outdoors p> Discover a wealth of books covering ~B.C.’s Outdoors” on: The Environment: Maps (free); Naturalist (birds, trees, flowers); Hiking; Fishing; Tide & Current Tables; Cycling and much more. Experience the full flavour of the ouldoors — stay informed. 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