John Bermingham
Province
A model housing project in Southeast False Creek could end up as a community for the rich if Vancouver City Council slashes social housing at the project.
Gregor Robertson, New Democrat MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, which includes False Creek, told council yesterday he’s had many calls from low- and middle-income people who worry they’re being priced out of an affordable home in Vancouver.
Council is currently debating whether to cut subsidized housing in the 80-acre project from 66 per cent to just 20 per cent, to save the city about $50 million.
The balance of the homes would be sold as market condos.
Robertson figures thousands of downtown workers are being forced to commute from the suburbs, a trend that has local businesses concerned.
“It’s a perilous choice to choose the elite choice and take the housing out,” said Robertson.
“Essentially you still have to invest public money in a toney neighbourhood. I think that will infuriate a lot of people in this city.”
City staff figure about 30 per cent of the Southeast False Creek condos could end up rented out to lower-income tenants.
Another New Democrat, Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA Jenny Kwan, told council to get the provincial and federal governments to put money into social housing in the project.
“It’s incumbent on this council to knock on the doors of the senior levels of government and ask for money,” she said.
© The Vancouver Province 2006