There are two camps in the debate over future densification of our beautiful South Delta. Those who welcome mixed, multi-unit housing and those who want to maintain the status quo. I am with the latter group.
In my neighbourhood for sale signs are popping up weekly due to what I call, “The grey-haired exodus.”
No offence to grey haired people because as of this year I am officially a senior with a few grey hairs.
Many seniors in South Delta are downsizing from their single-family homes, moving to long-term care, or sadly dying.
Most of their homes are being torn down and replaced with large single-family houses that are priced for the rich.
While developers are free to build McMansions on expensive land, they are usually built by speculators looking to make profits instead of considering the needs of the community.
Big homes are the not the way of the future, and South Delta is no exception.
City planners and architects are capable of innovative designs for multi-use housing that maintains privacy and aesthetics.
Here’s a good example of creating new housing in our community.
A recent application for a zoning amendment to build 12 residential townhomes beside Pebble Hill Elementary in Tsawwassen is an awesome idea.
Families could afford a home with parks and an elementary school nearby. Why would we continue to rebuild single-family homes that are out of reach for most because someone deserves to have their neighbourhood exempt from change.
We should be very worried that 42 per cent of young adults are considering moving away from our province because they see no affordable future here. That is a scary statistic.
We must increase densification now, there is no excuse not too. The next generation has to see a future in our community, or we will suffer greatly.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who is not afraid of change
