Achi news desk-
Ancaster, Ont. Account. Craig Cassar says he’s optimistic his proposed “compromise” will change the minds of some of his colleagues and revive a plan to build affordable housing on a pair of surface parking lots in downtown Stoney Creek.
The housing initiative amendments offer alternatives to those who have previously argued that the lots at 5 and 13 Lake Avenue need to remain as they are essential for accessibility to small businesses and nearby medical clinics .
The proposed 57 new affordable housing units, to be built over those areas, were put on ice after a tie vote at a meeting of the General Affairs Committee last February.
The houses were part of a larger scheme of six properties earmarked to add 150 permanent homes to the city’s affordable housing stock.
Ahead of a final vote Wednesday, Cassars’ 10 amendments address the accessibility concern as well as some public angst over the removal of Veteran’s Lane — a thoroughfare honoring community members who served in overseas conflicts.
“I hope this can be a good compromise so we can build affordable housing because we are in a housing crisis and we need everything we can build,” explained Cassar.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
The email you need for the day’s top news stories from Canada and around the world.
Getting rid of the 57 parking spaces is still on the table in the amendment, but it calls for the addition of 36 parking spaces elsewhere to make up for the loss.
He also directs staff to find ways to maximize other parking spaces in the area and possibly lease private lots, as is done in Dundas.
Staff would also be tasked with reaching out to local organizations to determine what people with “lower mobility” need.
Included is renaming one of the new developments and funding public art or a mural to honor veterans.
Five city-owned parking lots and vacant properties in Hamilton have been identified by non-profit groups as locations where about 150 units of affordable housing could be built.
In addition, the application seeks to engage Branch 622 of the Royal Canadian Legion to investigate the possibility of upgrading the parcel at 12 King Street East and naming it in honor of veterans.
Cassar told Global News Monday that he has had a dialogue with some councilors about his idea and says that none of them seem willing to change their minds at the moment.
He says he has not spoken to Cllr. Matt Francis, who won support in a late 2023 bid to have both lots held over.
“I’ve reached out to … Count. Francis on three different occasions (but) I haven’t heard back,” Cassar admitted.
“I have spoken to some other councillors. No-one at the moment has said they would change their vote.”
In late February, Francis said the move to block the development was about protecting jobs, small businesses and giving parking options to those attending the nearby medical center and veterans visiting the Royal Legion Canada.
So far, councilors are split 8-8 on whether to proceed with the housing project at the expense of public parking.
Francis insisted that the issue is not a “parking for people” narrative and suggested that an alternative in the West Riverdale neighborhood of Stoney Creek has been overlooked.
“That could go forward … and provide almost as many affordable housing units for families in a neighborhood that can support it even better than downtown Stoney Creek,” Francis said.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
