A Nelson city councillor says it’s time to debate just how serious they are about the affordable housing shortage.
Michael Dailly does not support Kootenay Co-op’s suggestion of three subsidized units in their Nelson Commons project.
He thinks they should rather put $54,000 ($1,000 per unit) into the city’s Affordable Housing Fund which could be leveraged for other projects.
Dailly says the Co-op’s offer for restricted resale units -at a 25% discount -is generous but helps only three families of a certain income level and not the most needy in the community.
Dailly says the Nelson Commons offer has opened up a debate over what the city can really achieve with its Affordable Housing Fund.
He says perhaps some of the $250,000 in new annual residential taxes the project is expected to generate could also go into the fund in an effort to create housing solutions for the most needy in the community.