A resident of an existing affordable housing complex in St. Albert isn’t impressed by citizen resistance to 70 Arlington Dr.
Sandra Hansen, a resident of the Heritage Hills Housing Co-operative in Heritage Lakes, feels that concerns raised about traffic, density, parking and property values are masking the true reason that Akinsdale residents are resisting an affordable townhouse complex the site — opposition to low-income people.
“They’re saying it in a roundabout way,” Hansen said.
“It’s insulting that they believe their property values are going to go down, or that children are going to be out of control because parents don’t have money. That’s such a slap in the face.”
A 58-unit townhouse complex is proposed for 70 Arlington Dr., an unneeded school site the Protestant school district is trying to sell to Habitat For Humanity Edmonton.
An open house in October drew public comments that low-income residents would bring lots of children which would lead to vandalism and fears that the complex would be a slum because residents wouldn’t have enough money to maintain it properly.
More recently, opponents speaking publicly have often declared that they have nothing against affordable housing. Hansen isn’t buying it.
“Obviously you do have issue with it … and I take issue right back,” said Hansen, who said she’s one of a few residents who is always actively volunteering throughout the community.
“I’ve probably done more for my community than half those people who are criticizing affordable housing, and I live in affordable housing,” she said.
Dave Evans, an outspoken opponent of the Akinsdale project, said others are misinterpreting the resistance, with one woman even levelling accusations of racism.
“It’s not the people. It’s too dense,” he said.
He feels the proposed development, with no basements under the buildings and drainage ditches along the fringes, along with the sheer density, will make it an unattractive place to live.
“People keep twisting this around and saying we’re racist and we’re NIMBYs but they don’t look at the true project,” he said.
Gerry Kress, another vocal opponent, also emphasized that the project itself is the target of opposition, not the people the development would bring.
“I want to be really clear that Akinsdale residents aren’t against affordable housing or Habitat For Humanity. It’s the density and the way the proposal is being presented and the way council is dealing with it,” Kress said.
Finnuala Pollard-Kientzel, president of the Heritage Hills co-operative, said she understands both sides of the issue.
“I don’t personally take it as an attack on me,” she said. “However, I think too that there has to be a tolerance and the realization that this is a fact. With the divorce rates the way they are and the way the economy is going, it is a fact that there’s a need for it and I think people need to build tolerance.”
