Port Elgin candidate, Bud Halpin, has views on how to help solve Saugeen Shores affordability crisis.
“I have adult children that live in Edmonton, Canmore, Ottawa, and Victoria. Condo prices in Edmonton are a bargain compared to Saugeen Shores, Canmore and Ottawa are comparable to Saugeen Shores, leaving only Victoria as more expensive. That is a sobering thought!
Saugeen Shores has all the elements that it needs to make some bold and concrete steps to resolve our affordable housing crisis. Affordable housing solutions should not make people lifetime renters. Home ownership should not be just a dream for younger people.
The recent rental subsidies announced by Bruce County are welcome, and it will help a few people, but it is a band aid solution and structural deficit for taxpayers. Home ownership is a long term solution. Home ownership frees up rental spaces, generates property tax, and allows people to have a family home. More importantly it allows families to build wealth through home equity. People don’t want a subsidy or a handout, they need a hand up! We can do that.
I propose a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build 100 affordable townhouse condos in Saugeen Shores in the next 4 year council term. Some of the units could be one story accessible units, but most would be multilevel 3 bedroom. Units would be all brick with lifetime roofs for long lasting and aesthetically pleasing exteriors. Energy efficiency will provide long term energy savings. A small garage is a must for an active and growing family.
The Town has about 8 hectares beside the YMCA day care. 100 units takes approximately 4 hectares. In that parcel, there is lots of room for a nice park to offset the high density, and more land for future affordable housing. I am not opposed to building units in other parts of town to avoid a concentration, but this is where we have land now.
Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce is a willing and experienced partner for this proposal. They have built Condos in Hanover, and over 60 homes in Grey Bruce in addition to Saugeen First Nation.
This is not a handout, this is a hand up. The land would be bought and paid for by the homeowner. The project is self-funded. There is no structural deficit in this type of project. The mortgages are geared to income. It is a win-win solution.
As with any project, there is a need for community input and consultation. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, there are many models to choose from. One option is leasehold, with the Town retaining ownership. A non profit condo corporation is another. Whether it is leasehold or owned, condo corporation bylaws could be made to make it “perpetually affordable”. Canmore Alberta does this through condo corporation bylaws that don’t allow owners to buy units for rentals, AirBnB, or for investment; they are solely for family homes. Resale is limited to recovering inflation, so the next buyer can receive the same affordability, the same helping hand.
Personally I would like to see the town dictate that every 10th building lot be an affordable rental unit or affordable home ownership lot. Saugeen Shores is a desirable place to live. We don’t have tp cater to developers. Our first loyalty should be to the citizens of Saugeen Shores. If developers don’t want to build affordable units because there isn’t enough profit in it for them, let’s build them ourselves. Or find developers that will build what the community needs. It is time for Council to take control of Saugeen Shores development.
While we build affordable homes, the County can catch up on affordable rentals. If the County can’t catch, perhaps we start doing them on our own.
Please send me to Saugeen Shores council. Let us be leaders. Let us set the standard. I won’t wait for Bruce County to do something. I won’t “hope” that the next huge apartment building will “have a few affordable units. We can build 100 units in 4 years.
This is an amazing community with unlimited potential. Just look at how the community got behind Lamont Park. Everywhere you look you see people working to make this community better, through service clubs, organizations, etc. We have every element we need to solve the housing crisis. We have the land, we have the partners, we have a supportive community. Send me to council, because I have the political will and connections to do it.”
