The Editor,
Re: "Densification destroys neighbourhoods," News, Sept. 28.
I'd like to respond to some of the comments made by Carol Day in your recent article on granny flats and coach houses in Edgemere and Burkeville.
These types of housing can provide much needed and more affordable options for living in this community, in a place where home ownership is beyond the reach of many residents.
Ms. Day's opposition to these ideas leads me to believe that she just doesn't want people who can't afford home ownership to have the opportunity to live in Richmond.
How is allowing low and middle income and elderly relatives an opportunity to live here destroying our neighbourhoods?
Allowing some housing alternatives is not sacrificing these communities, but is a step in the evolution of our city, one which most progressive municipalities have allowed.
As for Ms. Day's criticism of Richmond staff for not getting more people involved - you can only ask residents to become engaged in a public process so many times before they will begin to ignore the issue.
Staff did their best to provide those residents with an opinion on the issue an opportunity to voice it, which they did, coming out in favour of the proposal.
Is Ms. Day suggesting that because residents do not agree with her opinions the process must be flawed?
Ms. Day's comment that the city should consider "housing development. to cater solely to low-income families" is truly frightening.
Is Ms. Day advocating a return to "the projects" of the 1960s?
Should the City of Richmond encourage a "low income ghetto?"
These comments read like Ms. Day advocates walls built within and around neighbourhoods. Surely this is not the kind of community we want to live in.
It is the task of city council to consider options and ensure that Richmond continues to grow as a healthy, vital and thriving community, one which provides viable housing alternatives for those residents who cannot afford home ownership in the current market.
A healthy community is an inclusive community, one where there is a range of income, of age and of housing options.
As Jane Jacobs wrote in 1961, "Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody."
Barry Konkin
Richmond
