Dear Editor: Re: Will new rules save Metrotown rentals? Burnaby NOW, May 4.
I applaud the provincial government for taking some action to attempt to address the sorry state of housing in B.C. Will Burnaby council have the courage to address the issue now that another of its many excuses are being removed? I have for too long heard that Burnaby is powerless because every issue is the responsibility of some other level of government.
More is needed than just zoning a few areas for rental units. The city needs to open up many more areas of the city to denser forms of housing.
We will need thousands of affordable apartments, townhouses and other forms of property ownership. We need new forms of zoning if the city is to remain survivable for the average person. Will city council be as willing to ignore the complaints of wealthy residents of large single-family homes when their area of the city is designated for densification as they were for low-income renters in Metrotown? On their current record, I have my doubts.
Burnaby grew up as a 1950s era single-family suburb that was affordable to the working family of that day. There are a lot more of us now and a new vision for housing is needed. The 1950s style is no longer appropriate and that means that a lot of people in Burnaby will have to accept that there will need to be a lot more apartments, townhouses and densified areas. So, will all members of Burnaby City Council – even if the developers involved do not contribute to their re-election war chests?
Carl Dillon, Burnaby
