BY BARB DYLLA
GUEST OPINION
Dear mayoralty candidates: You have all adhered admirably to your platform regarding your approach to housing issues in Charlottetown. I have not yet heard any candidate, with perhaps one exception, mention "urban planning" or "urban design."
However, what I have heard over the past weeks in debates and radio interviews is an emphasis on consulting and working with developers to build more housing. It is a truth universally acknowledged that developers are first and foremost interested in their bottom line, and not necessarily in the greater good of a community.
Consider the city of Montreal from 2010 to 2017: Within a (roughly) six-year period, beautiful old districts were demolished to build high-rise condos, one stacked beside the other. In essence, the city administration of the day had handed out building permits like they were candy, and approved exceptions to building bylaws that went against the city's urban plan.
As for public consultations, these were kept to a minimum. Why? Only when enough residents raised serious concerns about a development was a public consultation organized.
Unfortunately, the consultations were conducted solely to appease the residents because the developments were usually a done deal. As such, few of the desired improvements (if not an outright review of the project) proposed by the public were implemented.
Of note is that, in at least one instance, the affordable housing units (rentals) were the last to be built, meaning the people with the greatest need had to wait the longest for a new apartment. How could this happen?
Well, the developers were keen to recoup their investment as quickly as possible. Ultimately, lack of adequate planning resulted in condo ghettos that have obliterated the environmental and architectural quality of several neighbourhoods, and resulted in a sudden influx of thousands of residents, and their cars.
The public transit system was less than an afterthought, and thus bus routes and frequencies were not adjusted accordingly to accommodate the increase in ridership. Obviously, Montreal is a big city and 30-storey condos won't be built here. My point is the way in which city officials mismanaged urban development, to the detriment of residents and the environment alike.
Charlottetown has attracted many newcomers over the years because of its small size, its architecture, its many green spaces, and its vibrant cultural energy. I am extremely concerned that municipal and provincial politicians will overlook this in an attempt to find an overnight solution to a problem many years in the making.
The housing crisis — a complex reality — must be solved with intelligence, ingenuity, impartiality and determination. Rushing into a construction frenzy is not one of them. I therefore beseech all of you, whether you are elected mayor or not, to use your influence, knowledge and skills to support and encourage a comprehensive, innovative approach that integrates the principles of urban planning and design.
Good luck to you all.
- Barbara Dylla of Charlottetown has a special interest in housing issues during this municipal campaign, based on her experiences with the issue in Montreal.
