The last Belleville Council meeting before the election will focus on an area that still needs more attention.
Council will consider a motion to award a tender for the sale of the vacant green space on the former Queen Mary School property to All-Together Housing Inc, the only qualified proposal received.
No bids were received for the school property itself, which hasn’t been a school in decades and has major structural issues partly caused by a flood in recent years.
There are also two other affordable housing developments up for discussion today, at 7 Aldersgate Drive and 20 College Street West.
All three projects have significant affordable housing components. The Queen Mary proposal is all rental units with half being designated at affordable housing.
A question that often gets asked when something like this comes forward is “does this project fit in with the character of the neighbourhood”?
First of all, my first house in Belleville was on Isabel Street right across from the Queen Mary property, so I can say with authority that it’s a very appropriate place for affordable housing.
More importantly though, every place is.
Councillors and candidates alike take note. There is a desperate need for more housing and especially more rental units and we need them everywhere.
Someone always has a reason not to do it, but if we want to make a big dent in homelessness and keep more families off the street, these are exactly the kinds of projects that need, along with many more in every single neighbourhood.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking
