A potential housing project that could bring 105 new units to the Town of Vermilion as been unanimously struck down by council.
Read more: Housing gaps in Vermilion identified
A housing-gap analysis was completed through economic development in 2024, identifying the need for 105 doors.
A letter of intent was signed with the Impact Affordable Housing Corporation to work with the Town of Vermilion as a means of moving an affordable housing project forward in the next four to five years.
Council had a chance to review the motion at the May 6 regular meeting.
Coun. Robert Pulyk said the gap of affordable housing was concerning.
“It is quite concerning about where our community sits as far as the need for affordable housing,” he said.
“It’s definitely needed, but I do agree with the motion rather than the other ones. With the time frame we have left in our council, I think it’s best suited for the next council to have a chance to go through the study and make a decision whether they want that in their strategic plan.”
Deputy Mayor Joshua Rayment was quick to criticize affordable housing.
“I think one of the big things we need to differentiate is the difference between affordable housing and attainable housing,” he said.
Rayment explained the property would be rented out at a subsidized rate.
“Essentially, their intent is for the Town of Vermilion to give them a piece of land. They would build what they consider to be affordable housing and that would be rented out at a subsidized rate,” he said. “They would want to rent 105 suites at a subsidized rate that maxes out based on your income.”
He continued to explain this is a move towards socializing housing.
“Essentially, what this is is socializing housing in our community,” said Rayment. “It wouldn’t be providing attainable housing, like a condo-style living where people can own their own place.”
Rayment says this project would likely turn into a “dump” the city would have to deal with.
“This is just a low-income, low-rent location, which I think would be a great thing for a few years but I feel it would turn into some of our other socialized housing in town and it would turn into a dump,” he said.
The impact of the potentially rundown building would be negative for the image of the Town of Vermilion, according to the deputy mayor.
“Then it would become the communities’ burden to take care of it. We’d be left with decaying junky properties. I just don’t think that’s a good image for our town,” he said, doubling down at the end of his comments about his strong opposition to affordable housing in Vermilion.
“I am opposed to affordable housing, not attainable, affordable housing,” he said, pointing to the fact they would collect no taxes on this property.
The motion was made to receive the affordable housing as information, potentially shifting the burden of decision onto the incoming council.
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