Rally to ‘keep Dartmouth affordable’ raises concerns about new housing development – Halifax | 24CA News

Protestors gathered in Dartmouth on Saturday to specific their issues with the proposed improvement of a 2,200-unit residential area anticipated to be constructed all through the present Mic Mac Mall parking zone.

The rally, dubbed “Fight to keep Dartmouth affordable,” was organized by housing advocacy group ACORN Nova Scotia, to demand inexpensive models be included within the undertaking.

“Fight, fight, fight, housing is a human right,” and the singing of “Solidarity Forever” was heard as automobiles handed by and honked horns to indicate help in the direction of the wide-ranging age group of advocates.

Tim Allenby, the co-chair of ACORN’s Dartmouth chapter, stated the undertaking at present has no mandated requirement for inexpensive models to be constructed on the location.

“We obviously welcome new units going up because we’re in a housing crisis, but it won’t go anywhere to solving the housing crisis unless those units can be afforded by the people who are living in the neighbourhood,” he stated.

“We need homes for the sake of homes, not property for the sake of investment.”

The improvement, which is being known as “The M District”, is being spearheaded by WM Fares Architects, on behalf of Rank Inc., in response to a undertaking define offered by the municipality.

“The proposal includes approximately 2,200 new residential units, plus 400 units for retirement living and additional commercial office and retail space built around the existing mall.” learn a undertaking define offered in an replace from the town in May.

The district is anticipated to be accommodated by new streets and parks within the space surrounded by Mic Mac Boulevard, Horizon Court, and Highway 111.

Allenby stated he has a message for anybody concerned in permitting this improvement to proceed: embody housing that’s inexpensive.

“Make sure it’s affordable for real people’s real wages, not what they consider affordable like 1800 dollars a month … actually affordable for regular people and build that requirement into the development as it gets constructed,” he stated.

“We want any level of government that has the power to act … that housing be built to people’s needs, not just to please a shareholder somewhere in Toronto or New York,” he continued.

“We can’t afford to move out”

Allenby stated extra residents are getting concerned in helping with ACORN’s battle for extra inexpensive housing, as individuals proceed to expertise difficulties within the housing or rental market.

Two of these ACORN members are Marjorie Pemberton and Fabian Donovan, who’ve been roommates for about six years, and say they’ve skilled black mould, cockroaches, ants, and mice whereas residing of their Spryfield house.

“We can’t afford to move out,” stated Pemberton, including that the 2 are at present residing with bodily disabilities and must climb three flights of stairs when coming into and leaving their dwelling. Despite these challenges, they’re but to find different housing options.

“We can’t even look when we see the price. We just couldn’t afford it, it’d take like 60 per cent of our income,” Pemberton stated, including that they each depend on social insurance coverage packages just like the Canada Pension Plan to cowl their bills.

Pemberton stated that contemplating the common worth of a two-bedroom house in Halifax equates to their month-to-month revenue, shifting elsewhere isn’t an choice.

“If I was looking for an apartment right now … I would not be able to live,” her roommate, Fabian Donovan stated.

Dartmouth councillor ponders options

Sam Austin, councillor for Dartmouth’s District 5, stated though he sees the brand new residential models as a giant alternative “for the city as a whole”, he acknowledges the issues and nonetheless has some questions on logistics.

“We’re talking about building an entire new neighborhood that has the population of a small town,” he stated.

“So what amenities are going to go into there to support that and how does the broader community also benefit from those amenities that are going to be put there? There’s opportunity and there’s also challenge,” Austin continued.

Austin stated the event location, which is at present an asphalt parking zone surrounding the Mic Mac Mall, works effectively as a result of “it’s already a hub” with entry to transit routes, trails, metropolis and industrial companies.

“We are seeing unprecedented growth in the municipality and one of the big challenges of growth is we have to try and put it in places that make sense,” he stated.

In reference to the requires among the anticipated models to be modestly priced, Austin talked about that one answer might embody exercising the municipality’s energy to implement inclusionary zoning.

“That could result in some actual units here being directly affordable,” he stated.

In October 2021, the province made amendments to the Municipal Government Act to supply extra planning powers to municipalities, with one being “inclusionary zoning”, which they described as a means for locations just like the Halifax Regional Municipality to require inexpensive housing in new developments inside municipal boundaries.

Austin stated though exercising these instruments could also be an choice to provide some low-cost models, it nonetheless doesn’t substitute the necessity for an improved total housing funding from the provincial authorities.

“We have not built any new public housing units in 30 years,” the Dartmouth councillor stated. “That’s a huge part of our problem.”

He stated individuals advocating for the accessibility of extra inexpensive housing ought to proceed pressuring provincial departments on the difficulty.

“That is where the root of the lack of affordable housing stock rests,” he stated. “I don’t think we’re going to truly get out of our housing issues unless (provincial) government recognizes that we have a huge supply challenge in terms of public housing and actually commits to building more public housing.”

As for constructing on the day’s momentum and persevering with that battle, Allenby stated his crew is simply getting began.

“This is the start of applying that pressure to the city, to the province, to make sure that going forward that this development, and if not this development, then future developments will have that affordable housing that we need,” he stated.

“This isn’t where the fight ends, this is where the fight begins.”

ACORN Nova Scotia will proceed its requires change at an inexpensive housing discussion board in Halifax on July thirteenth.