Signed, delivered, but not yet sealed.
City of North 麻豆传媒映画council took the unusual step of deferring final approval of a Chesterfield Avenue rental project Sept. 10 over concerns about tenant relocation.
Council approved a six-storey, 87-unit rental development at 1730 Chesterfield Avenue in January, ostensibly giving MacLean Homes the green light to replace the three-storey, 43-unit building currently occupying the site.
But instead of giving the project the city鈥檚 corporate seal 鈥� a formality that usually proceeds without discussion 鈥� council temporarily halted the project over concerns only 15 per cent of the displaced tenants have been successfully relocated.
Under questioning from Coun. Don Bell, city staff said the applicant had failed to provide displaced tenants with at least three North Shore housing options within 10 per cent of their current rent.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe that that policy has been fulfilled on this one,鈥� Bell said.
Coun. Holly Back went further, describing an 80-year-old tenant living in 鈥渁bsolute panic鈥� over housing.
Rather than retaining a professional relocation service, the tenants have been forwarded 鈥淐raigslist listings,鈥� according to Back.
Following a motion from Coun. Craig Keating, council unanimously voted to delay their vote.
Mayor Darrell Mussatto advised that the issue may need to be left to the city鈥檚 next council if the item can鈥檛 be shoehorned into an agenda prior to the Oct. 20 municipal election.
The last council meeting before the election is set for Oct. 1.
The project was previously opposed by Chesterfield Avenue resident Joley Switzer.
鈥淚 would like to be more certain of my future because life is too short to be hanging on tenterhooks and perhaps agreeing to less than satisfactory interim accommodation,鈥� Switzer wrote, noting the prospect of a significant rent hike.
However, replacing the 40-year-old low-rise seemed sensible to Dianna Allen, who introduced herself as a longtime resident of the building at a January council meeting.
鈥淎ll things being equal, there (have) to be places to rent that... people can live in and be comfortable in and afford.鈥�
The project is set to consist of six studio apartments, 53 one-bedroom units, 18 two-bedroom units and 10 three-bedroom units.
Nine of those apartments, including a three-bedroom unit and two two-bedroom units, are set to be offered at 10 per cent less than mid-market rates.
Bell and Back voted against the project in January, citing a parking scarcity Bell said would be exacerbated by providing 56 parking spots for 87 units.
Back also took issue with the project鈥檚 footprint, which represents more than 50 per cent jump in density.
鈥淚t just doesn鈥檛 fit in the area,鈥� Back concluded in January.
In 2017, council approved a five-storey, 34-unit rental building at 1549 Chesterfield Ave. as well as a 27-unit co-housing development over three lots on the 2100 block.
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