YEG Addresses Infill Issue
Monday, January 5th, 2015In early fall our sister blog at Re/Max North posted the Infill Trend detailing the current influx of residential development in the city. This trend is in response to skyrocketing population growth in Alberta, as well as the rest of Canada.
This issue is far from resolved, according to recent reports by Canadian Real Estate Magazine, stating that within the next 3 decades “Canada will actually need another 4.5 million homes for incoming generations”. Historical predictions were proven inaccurate when baby boomers continued to stay in their residences, rather than an expected mass exodus, causing a previously unforeseen housing shortage.
City Official Peter Ohm Discusses Infill Initiatives. Image Credit: Metro News
The City of Edmonton took initiative when implementing the “Evolving Infill” plan to create more residential space in existing established neighbourhoods. However, with any project there are bumps along the way. The city has recently created a ‘compliance team’, as reported by the Edmonton Journal, to physically inspect infill projects, assuring they are built according to permit guidelines. The inspections are necessary before new tenants can take up residency. According to City Councillor Michael Walters:
“The compliance team is needed to win public support for further infill housing”.
This is necessary based on the public mistrust created when community members felt corners were being cut on projects being rushed to completion.
Edmonton Infill Projects. Image Credit: John Lucas, Edmonton Journal
The Journal reports on the process:
“the new six-member team will visit all new developments in existing low-density neighbourhoods to ensure the infill house was built according to the development permit approved by the city.”
Issues arose due of the complaint-driven nature of the currents development compliance system, meaning a neighbour or concerned bystander would have to call to report an issue with a project before its investigation. The new compliance team takes a proactive approach to the system, which addresses the public concern over previous rule bending by developers.
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