What is a “win-win” in relation to 70 Arlington Dr.?
In the eyes of the residents of Akinsdale, this ranges anywhere from a full park or a school or a church or even a few duplexes running parallel to Arlington Drive.
On the other hand, to Habitat for Humanity, our current city council and many residents of St. Albert, a “win-win” only means one thing — a circular layout with 17 duplexes (or more) on three acres of land.
Could this difference in thinking have anything to do with the reputation of Akinsdale? Probably. After all, Akinsdale is treated differently than many neighbourhoods in St. Albert. Take for instance the fact that one school property has already been used to build a church and an arena. Now, another school property is going to be used for ‘affordable housing’? Then, there’s always the fact that five other properties throughout St. Albert are currently owned by school boards but will become parks if it is decided that a school is not required.
Perhaps the “win-win” would be to treat Akinsdale the same as North Ridge — a few duplexes running parallel to Arlington Drive, leaving the rest of the land attached to the current park and dispersing the other 15 units throughout St. Albert. Dividing these units amongst all neighbourhoods would go a long ways toward creating a stronger sense of community, versus building a group of homes that:
• Habitat for Humanity has yet to open their files and prove that St. Albert residents truly need 34 units on top of the duplexes already built in North Ridge plus the 90-plus units slated for Big Lake Pointe plus the new seniors complexes along Arlington Drive and Inglewood Drive, not to mention the newest housing plans for the absolute homeless of this city.
• City council doesn't have to amend bylaws to kowtow to potential developers, when residents themselves are not allowed the same consideration.
• Akinsdale residents can point to as the reason their homes backing onto this project will have lost anywhere from six to nine per cent of their value.
Then again, maybe city council, Habitat for Humanity and the rest of St. Albert don’t believe that Akinsdale deserves anything better.
Fred Trotter, St. Albert
