The message following last week’s Town of Vermilion council meeting was clear: If you don’t have money, don’t move here.
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Unfortunately, this appears to be a harsh reality set out by the soon out going mayor-less Vermilion council.
A pair of items were presented to council, which both drew heavy scrutiny. The first on the docket featured the continued reduction in sale price for industrial lots.
The lots themselves were priced at $130,000 and though economic development expressed there was interest at that price, council postponed the decision.
Due to the motion not being extended, prices were going back to the original $380,000 to $420,000 per acre.
Comments made seemed to indicate the price, regardless of what it was, wouldn’t deter someone from buying if they really were interested.
The lots, at the time of writing, remain unpurchased.
The second item was a potential housing development for the town.
A housing gap analysis from months ago
identified the need for more available housing in the town. About 105 more “doors,” as they say, were needed.
A letter of intent was signed with the Impact Affordable Housing Corporation as a means to bring an affordable housing project in the next four to five years.
Council chose to receive the item as information leaving the decision to a future council. For me, it was the comments that got under my skin and why I’m writing this today.
Comments seemingly degraded affordable housing as negative to the public image and saying they don’t need a slumlord in the town. The comments were made as the belief is the building would get worse over time, eventually getting dumped on the town to deal with.
I do want to point out that attainable housing would be great, however, owning a home is not a reality for everyone. It’s expensive to own a home and not everyone wants to be a homeowner.
For a lot of industries, affordable housing would be crucial to getting people to move into your community. I started in journalism at just above minimum wage. I didn’t have affordable housing, but would’ve benefited greatly from it.
The message that’s sent to the wider Alberta is, don’t move here unless you have money. Owning a property also helps the city as that individual pays’ property tax. Of course, an apartment building is subject to property tax.
It was a point of conversation that the subsidized housing wouldn’t pay property tax.
You won’t attract young working professionals without affordable housing. People don’t always know they want to make your community home.
If you have those options available those young individuals would see your community, afford to live there in the short-term and maybe stay long-term.
I always believe councillors in any municipality want the best for the community. How that happens is different based on perspective and if nothing more I hope to get a conversation going.
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