Revised plans for 70 Arlington Dr. could see 34 affordable housing units built on the 1.2-hectare site without any involvement from Apollo Developments.
The new site plan, filed with the city on Wednesday, shows 17 duplexes located in a circle on the property for a total of 34 units. All units would have basements and most would have two floors, except for five designated for people with disabilities.
The plan also calls for greater setbacks between the property and existing Akinsdale homes, and landscaping enhancements to create a “park-like” setting facing the street.
“Arlington Drive will look like a park,” said Alfred Nikolai, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton. “The foliage will be planted in such a way that it makes the homes private.”
The new plan comes two months after council set a cap of 34 units at 70 Arlington Dr. and called for alterations like a cul-de-sac design and the addition of basements, changes made in response to public criticisms that earlier plans were too dense.
The initial development application to council called for 58 units built in partnership between the not-for-profit Habitat and Apollo Developments, a private company.
The changes resulted in Apollo dropping out of the project because the numbers no longer work financially, Nikolai said. Without that financial partner, Habitat will have to fundraise to pay for construction, which could delay the project, he said.
“Habitat has a very good reputation of finding the money. Unfortunately, the construction may be spread out more than 12 months. We may have to stagger the building over a few years.”
Council also opened the door to allow basement suites in some of the units, however Nikolai said Habitat will not pursue that option because renting does not comply with his organization’s home ownership guidelines.
City senior planner Lenore Mitchell said the move toward a circle design instead of a cul-de-sac was made to improve emergency access to the property.
Akinsdale resident Gerry Kress said the updated plan shows a disregard for the residents of the neighbourhood because it did not meet the recommendations outlined in public charettes held in April where most area residents preferred no more than 16 units with a cul-de-sac design.
Kress said Habitat’s latest plan is another sign no one with the organization or at city hall is listening to residents that border the property.
“It’s kind of like we don’t really mean anything,” he said. “It’s the residents being ignored, as usual.”
The city will start collecting public feedback about the revised plan starting Aug. 4. Copies of the proposal are available on the second floor at St. Albert Place.
