Dear Editor,
Re: “Council holds firm on rental zoning,” News, Jan. 13
(On Feb. 22, there will be a public hearing on imposing rental-only zoning on 60 properties that already have rental buildings.)
The proposal for residential rental-only zoning would be much better for these properties, their tenants and the city if, while requiring at least one for one or more residential rental replacement, it also allowed the addition of ground floor arterial commercial units and some residential stratas.
Restricting existing aging residential rental developments to residential rentals only would reduce options for remediation, rejuvenation, rental replacement and densification, and also their ability to re-finance.
It would also make it less desirable to build residential rentals instead of stratas in the future, out of concern their future opportunities would be severely limited by the city.
Many of the 60 properties are 40-50 years old, located on arterial streets in or near town centres and will soon be facing such decisions. The buildings are wearing out and experiencing or approaching costly plumbing, electrical, roofing and exterior repairs.
The buildings are functionally obsolete with walk-up bachelor apartments, single-glazed windows, no or obsolete fire systems without sprinklers and other issues. Apartments for elderly or disabled don’t meet current needs.
In such cases, redevelopment and densification may be preferable to remediation, and allowing some commercial and/or stratas will increase financing options to support rentals.
I have been a volunteer director at one of these locations, the non-profit Legion Senior Citizen Society “Golden Mews,” for eight years, and involved in development and operation of other non-profits.
Through involvement with ANAF 284 redevelopment as a volunteer director 10 years ago, I’ve seen how mixed use developments can be symbiotic, providing lower-cost housing while also providing small business opportunities and expanding the city tax base.
Peter Mitchell
RICHMOND
