There has been a lot of discussion about blanket zoning and receiving funding from the Federal Government for housing development. I am glad that the current Council rejected the blanket zoning that was required to be approved for the funding. There needs to be a “Made in Red Deer” solution for those seeking a home in Red Deer that needs Federal and Provincial support.
We need to add a rung to the property ladder here in Red Deer so more families can afford a place of their own. There are three ways in which we can accomplish this together as a city:
- Raise property taxes by three times the current rate on derelict and disused land that is not being developed but speculated upon to pay for new development or encourage development.
- Create new neighbourhoods that focus on tiny homes and centralized services for those homes
- Create an audit of unhoused families, those that are working but are unable to afford the deposit on a place of their own, so we can create an umbrella organization of city and community supports for these families to get a home of their own.
The Federal Government’s rules for funding Blanket zoning allows for developers to come into Red Deer and build a multiplex unit on ANY lot in Red Deer. This would destroy many of the neighbourhoods that have existed for many years in Red Deer. A multiplex unit on a lot that used to be only for one household does not make any sense. Where there once was one or two bathrooms, there would now be up to 16 toilets going into the same pipes. There is no room for parking vehicles. Garbage pick up would be impacted by narrow lanes and streets that would now be full of bins. Just from an infrastructure viewpoint, this would not work in older neighbourhoods. I recently learned that several neighbourhoods in Red Deer have lost their historical designation. That needs to be reversed and we need to recognize several other areas of the city as historical as well. While I am not against multiplex units, we just need to make sure they use land that is tailor made for them, in a well planned and laid out area, not just anywhere.
How can these areas of Red Deer be developed for the greatest benefit of Red Deer? We have the room - now we need to use it wisely. These areas do not belong to the City of Red Deer but they are within our city limits.
This is far from an extensive list of available land within Red Deer but does show that we have land available for more homes. As a Council, we need to make sure that the new rung is available for those that need it the most.
Michener Gardens
Old Greyhound Lot Downtown
North of 46 St. Downtown
Capstone
IDEAS FOR TINY HOMES
Alberta Government Affordable Homes Funding Model
Veterans Village Edmonton and Calgary by ATCO Industries
New Tiny Home Community in Okotoks
Tiny Homes Alberta Information