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A start at a new affordable housing strategy... not just secondary suites

Today at the council workshop session, we were taken through various tools that might allow the creation of more affordable housing units in the city. This process is just starting but here are some preliminary points and thoughts:

1. The creation of affordable housing in Kamloops goes beyond simply looking at secondary suites. In fact, a more permissive secondary suite policy may not be the even part of the strategy.
2. City staff feel the most promising strategy, at this early point, may be looking at offering builders the ability to add more units if they include some more affordable units in their projects.
3. We are looking at mainly the market sector, not non profit housing. This means we need to figure a way to work closely with the building community to achieve this community goal.
4. If we pursue a secondary suite strategy, good first step might be passing along appropriate and relevant information to potential suite owners on how to create a legal suite.
5. Two prong strategy: look at both helping create more rentals, and more affordable ownership opportunities.

The Unexpected Joys of Door Knocking

Yesterday (Sunday) was a breakthrough kind of day for me. I started the morning at the Sikh Temple at Ord Road. I want to thank my great friend Gurwinder Singh for coming with me and I want to thank the congregation at the Temple for allowing me the opportunity to speak with them. After, I took a round of all the home show booths at the Mt Paul Centre (formerly the KXA). I saw a bunch of people who I knew and met a few others.

Next on the agenda was to do a little doorknocking. I have been urged to do this for a while but was feeling quite nervous about it. Not only did I not know how people would recieve me, I also am quite afraid of dogs I don't know. Al McNair, whom I met at the home show, gave me a great tip to carry dog biscuits in my pocket as I walked from house to house. I took a short detour to PetCetra before hitting the street:

Bulk Doggie Biscuit Bins

Biscuits in pocket, I started walking Greystone Crescent in Aberdeen. After a few houses with no answer, a young lady finally answered a door. I introduced myself and asked if I could give her my resume and candidate card. She graciously accepted. A few more houses down, I had a jovial chat with a gentleman who was grooming his garden. A few more houses down, I met someone I knew.

My route in Aberdeen

And on it went. I found myself having a very good time. After about 90 minutes or so, I had a mocha break, and then headed to Valleyview. Very much the same experience.

Didn't even meet any ornery canines!

My route in Valleyview

In Aberdeen, I heard concerns about bringing more business to Kamloops and desires to support Council candidates who had worked raising funds in grassroots in community organizations. In Valleyview, I heard about issues like the lack of safe Valleyview bicycle/pedestrian access to downtown, council trips, better communication with the citizens, and smart livable community type development.

Towards the end, I saw a wonderful rainbow over the Dallas / Barnhartvale area.

Mike Ungrin on the Valleyview Riverfront...

Had a quick chat with Mike Ungrin yesterday. Mike is the owner of Marjon Jewellers in Aberdeen Mall. Mike shared with me his idea that the City should one day create a beautiful watefront park and beach where the riverfont industrial area currently sits in Valleyview, across from Kamloops Select Auto and the Brick, etc.

He knows this is a long term project but I thought it a very interesting idea. I know City Council has been buying up riverfront land in many areas of Kamloops.