Re: "Subsidized housing project 'will be the beginning of the downtown's demise,'" Letters, The Gazette, Jan. 26.
I have lived in downtown St. Albert for 23 years and therefore have seen first-hand how this area has progressed. For many years city council tried to shape it into the next Whyte Avenue. We are not Edmonton. We are St. Albert. Yes, we have some wonderful locally-owned businesses and professional offices in this area, but it still retains the feel of a warm and welcoming historical community. This brings us to the empty lot (Lot 22) diagonal to City Hall. Because the city could not sell this lot, the plan is to sell it to Homeland Housing to be used for a big, shiny affordable rental housing project which potentially could be seven stories high. This plan was done with no regard for how it would fit with the present downtown community and businesses. It certainly doesn’t take into account the lack of parking that plagues this area.
I wonder if anyone has done a survey to see exactly who currently lives in the downtown area and what their needs are. The majority of residents in downtown St. Albert are retired and are quite happy with its present quaintness. About 100 condominium owners live on St. Joseph Street, which is adjacent to Lot 22, and yet we are treated with disregard. We pay taxes to live here, yet we were not even notified of this impending deal.
Let’s face it, Lot 22 really should be a part of the parks system. Presently, people use it to walk their dogs, picnic/play on during the outdoor farmers market, and meet there to visit friends. Its utilization could be further expanded when the International Children’s festival, the Christmas Light-up festival, and Rock n August take place. So why does the city want to change the feel of the downtown area? There are other places in the city where affordable rental housing would make a better fit. Somewhere close to schools, banks, and grocery stores. This city council does not care about tradition, and it certainly doesn’t care about the people who presently live downtown.
Norma Bougie, St. Albert
