District of North Van council’s questions on ‘affordability’ sees plan for below-market units stalled

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – While Surrey wakes up to a debt load it didn’t know it had, another council across the region has now passed up a chance at affordable housing.

Civic politicians in the District of North Vancouver can’t agree on a path forward, and have delayed another chance at building more affordable units, saying the issue needs more discussion.

City Councillor Mathew Bond wants district staff to make a financial plan for as soon as possible, with a goal of one-thousand units of affordable housing in that city by the year 2029.

“Homes take a significant amount of time to construct,” Bond’s motion reads. “For non-market rental homes, the process generally consists of identifying a need, securing an operating partner, securing a site, testing financial feasibility, securing funding, designing the building, obtaining approvals, and then construction. In the District of North Vancouver, it is likely that this entire process would take up to four years or longer.”

However, his attempt to move on below market housing is likely pushed until the New Year — the motion in council to defer passed with only Bond opposed.

Had it been voted through, it would have resulted in a plan to use $150-million to build near transit and strategically densify.

Housing Activist Jennifer Bradshaw says the District is stalling.

“They don’t want to do it,” she tells NEWS 1130. “There are lots of people living in these neighbourhoods that don’t want low income housing and I think they’re pandering to that.”

They’re also pandering to those who believe the only way our of the North Shore’s congestion issue is by slowing development, Bradshaw adds.

Voters narrowly endorsed spending that money during the recent municipal election.

Mayor Mike Little says he wants to see “affordability” defined before moving forward.

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