The Editor:
Re: "Densification destroys neighbourhoods: Day," News, Sept. 28.
Laneway houses destroy neighbourhoods and make no sense, or cents.
Our Richmond Gardens neighbourhood turned out in droves to a recent city-arranged laneway housing meeting to complain that our neighbourhood was already densifying too fast, and the city wasn't stopping illegal insuite rentals and excessive on street parking, and wouldn't be able to manage extra laneway home rentals either.
I also pointed out that our neighbourhood and the south third of Edgemere have no laneways and firefighting access would be a problem too.
Beyond that, the laneway home could typically cost up to $200,000 for 700 square feet and $10,000 in city zoning fees. So even at current interest rates the carrying costs could require a $1,500 rent. Taxes would go up, too and, as we've seen recently when a few properties in an area redevelop, all the assessments and taxes in the area increase.
Seniors in need of some help can already convert an 800 square feet ground floor space into a "granny flat" for an eighth the cost of a laneway home. This makes financial sense and social sense for the seniors and has much less impact on the neighbourhood.
Peter Mitchell
Richmond
