BCAPI/VCSJ Housing Working Group

Ask the members of this group, what is their stand (now that the report is public)?

• Gregor Hope, Chair, retired businessman
  chargreg@nbnet.nb.ca
  
• Peter Asimakos, Uptown Saint John Inc.
  40 King Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
  E2L 1G3
  peter@uptownsj.com
  Phone: (506) 633-9797
  Fax: (506) 652-3525
  Toll Free:1-888-878-6967
  
• Bob Boyce , Architect
  Global Design and Construction Ltd.
  57 Carleton Street
  Saint John, New Brunswick E2L 2Z2
  Canada
  Website: www.globaldesignandconst.com
  Phone: (506) 652-4055
  Fax: (506) 652-4174
  robertboyce@rogers.com
• Don Connolly, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
  Don Connolly CRF, AMP
  Corporate Representative Saint John
  Tel. : 506-848-4939
  Cell: 506-647-9330
  Fax: 506-848-4902
  Email: dconnoll@cmhc-schl.gc.
• Pat Darrah, Saint John Construction Association
  263 Germain Street
  Saint John, NB
  E2L 2G7
  (506) 634-1747
  FAX (506) 658-0651
  EMAIL sjca@nbnet.nb.ca
• John Delaney, J.D. Irving Limited
• Bill Edwards, City of Saint John, Building Inspection
  PO Box 1971
  Saint John, NB E2L 4L1
  Tel: (506) 658-2911
  Fax: (506) 632-6199
  Email: bill.edwards@saintjohn.ca
• Ken Forrest, City of Saint John, Planning/Development
  10th Floor, City Hall
  Weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  Tel: (506) 658-2835
  Fax: (506) 658-2837
  planning@saintjohn.ca
  ken.forrest@saintjohn.ca
• Kit Hickey, Housing Alternatives & Rehabitat Inc.
  28 King Street
  632-9393
  khickey@nb.aibn.com
• Danny Jardine, Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation
• John Lawson, Lawson Property Management
  (506) 652-1177
  (506) 652-1562 Fax
  133 Prince William St
  Saint John, NB , E2L2B
  jlawson@nb.aibn.com
• Brian Marks, NB Dept. of Social Development
  25 Beaverbrook Avenue
  Saint John, NB E2K 2W2
  Phone: (506) 658-5563
  Fax: (506) 658-5171
  EMail Address: Brian.Marks@gnb.ca

 

• Mike McMenamon, N.B. Dept. of Social Development (Housing)
  Phone: (506) 658-5151
  Fax: (506) 658-5171
  EMail Address: mike.mcmenamon@gnb.caDon Mitchener, retired, Deloitte
  44 Chipman Hill #700,
  Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, E2L-2A9
  General Fax 1 (506) 632-1210
  General Tel 1 (506) 632-1080
  mitchen@nb.sympatico.ca
• John Rocca, The Rocca Group
  Phone at (506) 635-3064
  jprocca@nbnet.nb.ca
• • Narinder Singh, Saint John Non-Profit Housing Inc.
  Street Address Rotary Admiral Beatty Complex
  14 King Sq S
  Saint John, NB E2L 1E5
  Office Phone 506-658-1925
  After Hours Phone 506-658-1925
  Fax 506-649-6079
  E-Mail
  sjnph@nb.aibn.com
  narinder@nb.aibn.com
• • 
• Rick Turner, Hughes Surveys and Consultants
  575 Crown Street
  Saint John, New Brunswick
  E2L 5E9
  Phone: 506.634.1717
  Fax: 506.634.0759
  rt@hughessurveys.com

 

• BCAPI Volunteers and Participants

http://www.bcapi.ca/about/volunteers.html

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to this 19 min interview

CLICK Below to LISTEN or DOWNLOAD

The Great Music Just Doesn’t Stop!!!

I’m always trying to find new and improved ways of doing things… I’ve just installed a Wordress Plugin “PowerPress” and this is my first episode exploring this application.

It is my hope that this can simplify my updates and get me back on track with delivering to you my weekly episodes.

Tell me what you think?

Playlist:

1. adam puddington - back in town - all i have is time
2. adam puddington - back in town - don’t hold it against me
3. adam puddington - back in town - not the only one
4. Ben Sollee - Learning to Bend - A Few Honest Words
5. Ben Sollee - Learning to Bend - How to See the Sun Rise
6. Ben Sollee - Learning to Bend - A Change Is Gonna Come
7. Cinnamon Girl- Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity Disc 1 - Down by the River (Jill Sobule)
8. Cinnamon Girl- Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity Disc 2 - Ohio (Dalia)
9. Cinnamon Girl- Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity Disc 1 - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Carmen Townsend)
10. Arizona - Glowing Bird - Heath
11. Arizona - Glowing Bird - Balloon
12. Arizona - Glowing Bird - The Glowing Bird
13. Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and Roll!!! - The Pedestrian
14. Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and Roll!!! - Red Tide
15. Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and Roll!!! - Dark Side of Night
16. The Consumer Goods - The Anti-Imperial Cabaret - The Terminator Rules
17. The Consumer Goods - The Anti-Imperial Cabaret - Ideology of Improvement
18. The Consumer Goods - The Anti-Imperial Cabaret - A Change is Gonna Come
19. Caw! Caw! - Wait Outside - Escape the Red Giant
20. Caw! Caw! - Wait Outside - Organisms
21. Caw! Caw! - Wait Outside - Wrapped Up Neat in the Bible
22. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins - Lost Coastlines
23. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins - Blue Tulip
24. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins - Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979

I haven’t, so far, explained my “3-song selection” rationale for my show and I think I should take this opportunity to do so now.  Over a year ago, I was compiling, on a weekly basis, a 24-song playlist for my shows. This would mean that I would feature 24 different artists, from 24 different albums and would construct an allegedly coherent  music flow for my listening audience. This was a daunting task and while it got my creative juices flowing, it also added to my ever increasing graying fur colouring. So I stumbled upon the idea of featuring an Album, with a concentrated effort to explore some of the artists’ background and enable a real flavor sampling of that performers’ particular piece (album). Three songs is the limit that the CRTC allows you to play from an album per hour and it is a good amount to allow the audience to get the “feeling” for an artists and their work. (It is also easier to put a show together - less stress for me = happier me!)

So there you have it!

Listen to this week’s Part 2 of the Best of 2008… you will smile

1. Pepi Ginsberg - Red - Son
2. Pepi Ginsberg - Red - Nothing More
3. Pepi Ginsberg - Red - The Waterline
4. David Myles - On The Line - I Don’t Want To Know
5. David Myles - On The Line - Give You Up
6. David Myles - On The Line - World Don’t Work
7. Sam Phillips - Don’t Do Anything - No Explanations
8. Sam Phillips - Don’t Do Anything - Can’t Come Down
9. Sam Phillips - Don’t Do Anything - Another Song
10. Old Man Luedecke - Proof of Love - Proof of Love
11. Old Man Luedecke - Proof of Love - Just Lika a River
12. Old Man Luedecke - Proof of Love - In the Begining
13. Science For Girls - Science For Girls - 14 Days (Bronwen Exter)
14. Science For Girls - Science For Girls - Australia (Paul Brill)
15. Science For Girls - Science For Girls - Peace Heart (Alexandra Slous)
16. Aimee Mann - @#%&-! Smilers - Freeway
17. Aimee Mann - @#%&-! Smilers - Columbus Avenue
18. Aimee Mann - @#%&-! Smilers - Looking for Nothing
19. The Tom Fun Orchestra - You Will Land with a Thud - When You Were Mine
20. The Tom Fun Orchestra - You Will Land with a Thud - Throw Me to the Rats
21. The Tom Fun Orchestra - You Will Land with a Thud - Rum & Tequila
22. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
23. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
24. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes - Sun It Rises

1. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers - Buffalo
2. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers - Sure As Shit
3. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers - Goodnight, California
4. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs - I Will Possess Your Heart
5. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs - Long Division
6. Rae Spoon - Superior You Are Inferior - Come on Forest Fire Burn the Disco Down
7. Rae Spoon - Superior You Are Inferior - Great Lakes
8. Rae Spoon - Superior You Are Inferior - My Heart Is a Piece of Garbage. Fight Seagulls! Fight!
9. Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall - Puttin’ on the Ritz
10. Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall - Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart
11. Billy Bragg - Mr Love & Justice (Band Version) - I Keep Faith
12. Billy Bragg - Mr Love & Justice (Solo Version) - Mr. Love & Justice
13. Billy Bragg - Mr Love & Justice (Solo Version) - The Johnny Carcinogenic Show
14. DeVotchKa - A Mad and Faithful Telling - Transliterator
15. DeVotchKa - A Mad and Faithful Telling - The Clockwise Witness
16. DeVotchKa - A Mad and Faithful Telling - Basso Profundo
17. Jason Collett - Here’s to Being Here - Roll on Oblivion
18. Jason Collett - Here’s to Being Here - Sorry Lori
19. Jason Collett - Here’s to Being Here - Out of Time
20. Teddy Thompson - A Piece Of What You Need - The Things I Do
21. Teddy Thompson - A Piece Of What You Need - A Piece of What You Need
22. Teddy Thompson - A Piece Of What You Need - In My Arms

Click on the Media Player on the Right.

On Avide’s web-site they have developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions related to Tannery Court in Saint John. The following is the South End Sustainable Community Group’s responses to those questions. Their link is http://www.avide.ca/tannerycourtcoop/faq.html

1. What will the building look like? What features will it include?                                               

Not the architecture you see in Saint John South End today.

The building will be three stories and house 50 one bedroom apartments and one 2 bedroom apartment. Fifty of the units are to be small, 500 ft² bachelor-type apartments. The only two-bedroom unit in the building is reserved for the building’s superintendent. Although there is a common laundry room, only 4 washers and 4 dryers are provided for 50 adults. The exterior of the building is to be L-shaped. The orientation of the building on the lot creates a narrow alleyway between the house at 27 Saint Andrews Street and the proposed development. This alley way will provide the majority of the green space for the residents of Tannery Court. Given the position of the buildings the green space will receive very little sunlight. In Moncton the green space is also in a shady area and consists of grey pebbles and low maintenance shrubs.

The proposed design of the Tannery Court development is out of scale with the general style and character of the surrounding properties. In terms of size and number of people in one building this development does not conform to the existing Saint John Municipal Plan. The Saint John plan stipulates that developments in this area not exceed 30 dwelling units per net residential acre. The Tannery Court development would result in a density of 48 dwelling units per acre.

2. What will the actual units be like?

The apartments are minimalist. These are small one bedroom apartments that are equipped with bathrooms that are limited to showers with no bathtubs provided in the units. These are for singles only.

3. Who will live in Tannery Court Saint John?

It has been difficult to get a precise answer to this question. The reports have varied. We do know specifically that all 50 of the tenants will come from a waiting list managed by the Department of Social Development for non-elderly singles in need of affordable housing. The apartments are for one person only and will not accommodate couples, children or roommates. In media reports a representative of Tannery Court has stated that residents may include people with mental health issues, physical disabilities and/or addictions. To date we have no official statements.

4. What type of supervision/security will be offered?

We have been told that the building will include security cameras. There will be one live-in supervisor. We are unclear of the supervisor’s responsibilities with regards to the facility other then to maintain the building.

5. Why can’t this complex be a “mixed” model?                      

Tannery Court in Moncton began with 5 apartments of the total 40 as market rate rental units. In Fredericton there was similar set up with 6 of 50 units set aside for market rate availability. We are told by Tannery Court representatives that this did not work out and that it was difficult to keep the market rate apartments occupied.

According to Bill O’Neil of Tannery Court: “A mixed-income project would not work in this case… partly because the mix hasn’t been successful in the past and because it’s not economically viable.”

In Saint John there has been a very different approach by other developers to creating mixed income affordable housing projects. Just a few blocks away in Leinster Court 24 of 52 units are also for non-elderly singles referred from the department of Social Development’s waiting list.  Another project “The Abbey” behind Saint Andrews and Saint David Church is currently being developed and will create 91 mixed income units for single people, couples, families and roommates.

Despite being one of the poorest neighborhoods in the country, South Enders value diversity.  Many of us have chosen to live in this neighborhood because it is mixed and as such gives it vibrancy.

6. Will bringing all these people together create a “ghetto”?

Ghetto by definition: Ghetto: A usually poor section of a city inhabited primarily by people of the same race, religion, or social background, often because of discrimination.

By definition this project will create an economic ghetto for single individuals.

According to Tannery Court: “For certain demographics and communities, mixed housing can work. Our experience, however, is that for this specific group, non-elderly singles, a targeted approach works better.”

Tannery Court representatives claim that people in “this demographic” prefer to live with only people from “this demographic”.   South End Sustainable Communities disagrees. 

7. How is Avide different than other Developers?

Unlike many recent developments in Saint John this development is completely reliant on government funding. Avide has provided this design to the government. Avide has stated it will not change the design in any way is it would be not economically viable.

A number of other developers who have built in Saint John have:

1. Built a community consultation process within the planning stage of their developments.

2. Have created mixed income projects that have a balanced mix between affordable and market focused units.  

3. Have combined government funding for affordable housing with funds from other investors.

8. Will Avide be continuing their involvement after Tannery Court is built?

The contract with Department of Social Development will require Tannery Court to provide subsidized housing for 10 years. There is no requirement beyond ten years. For the building Tannery Court will receive $25,000 per “low income” unit. This is $25,000 times 50 for a total of $1.25 million.  Tannery Court will receive funds from the government to make up for the difference between what tenants are able to pay (30% of their income) and the a “determined” market rate. At the end of the ten year period Tannery Court will continue to own the building completely funded through government dollars.

9. Why did Avide not consult with the Community before going to Planning?

Tannery Court claims they did consult with the community. According to their own documents “Following our proposal to the city to build a Tannery Court in this location, area residents and ourselves were invited to a meeting of the Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) on October 21. Twelve local residents and property owners attended, most of whom made written enquiries into the nature of the project. A full presentation on the Tannery Court proposal was given, and we answered questions and addressed the concerns raised by those in attendance. Following this, the PAC granted the variances that were requested, which allowed Tannery Court to move forward.”

The only people made aware of the PAC meeting describe above by Tannery Court documents as “community consultation meeting”  were some of the property owners within 90 meters of 185 Carmarthen. People renting apartments or living 91 Meters or more away from the building were not made aware of the meeting.  PAC meetings follow a precise format that does not allow for discussion between the developer and those in attendance concerned about the development. PAC meetings focus only on the variances requested and do not involve any consideration of the merits or concerns of the project itself.

A community meeting on Tannery Court was set up for Nov. 20, 2008. Tannery Court representatives chose to not attend the community meeting suggesting that the promotions would only attract those with concerns about the development. The meeting did proceed and a variety of opinions on the development were expressed. 

To see the meeting by video visit You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp7HDP9SVgM.

No other mechanism for community input has yet occurred.

10. Why the South End?

It is called the path of least resistance.

Tannery Court explored two other locations before settling on 185 Carmarthen. The first undisclosed location had contaminants and therefore was no longer desirable. The second location was on Bentley Street (near Douglas Avenue). The Planning Advisory Committee rejected Tannery Court’s request for the needed re-zoning and variances to proceed. The site at 185 Carmarthen did not require as complicated an approval process. Re-zoning was not necessary. The only approval process for this project to go forward was the granting of variances by the same Planning Advisory Committee. On Oct. 21, 2008 the same Planning Advisory Committee approved variances for the same project they rejected just weeks earlier at another location. This expedited approach will help the developer to meet Government deadlines for financing.   

There are particular concerns with this location however. The impact of a project such as this in an already vulnerable neighbourhood is of great concern. The South End is one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Saint John, in New Brunswick and in Canada. Within the larger South End the immediate neighbourhood (called Dissemination Area by Stats Can.) has the highest poverty rate of all of the South End.

According to 2006 Statistics Canada data, the south-end of Saint John has a poverty rate of 37.5%, compared with the city-wide poverty rate of 20.8%.  Statistics Canada divides the south-end into eight smaller dissemination areas. The dissemination area where Tannery Court is to be located (“Tannery Court D.A.”) has a total population of 455. The poverty rate in the Tannery Court D.A. is 56.2% compared with the city-wide poverty rate of 20.8%, and is the highest poverty rate of the eight south end D.A.s.

Despite these dismal statistics the South End is a vibrant and interesting neighbourhood. To ensure that this neighbourhood becomes healthier and happier for all we need “balanced” housing.

The South End needs integration not segregation.

* These “Frequently Asked Questions” are those developed by Tannery Court: at http://www.avide.ca/tannerycourtcoop/faq.html the above are the South End Sustainable Community Group’s responses to those FAQ’s.

Here’s the playlist:

1. Lullaby Baxter - Garden Cities of To-Morrow - Jet-Pack
2. Lullaby Baxter - Garden Cities of To-Morrow - What’s Wrong With You
3. Lullaby Baxter - Garden Cities of To-Morrow - Rattled Little Clam
4. the urban aesthetics - the urban aesthetics - Dead end - street scene
5. the urban aesthetics - the urban aesthetics - See the sunshine through the haze
6. the urban aesthetics - the urban aesthetics - Don’t go takin’ it to heart
7. Teddy Thompson - A Piece of What You Need - The Things I Do
8. Teddy Thompson - A Piece of What You Need - Where to Go from Here
9. Teddy Thompson - A Piece of What You Need - In My Arms
10. Jolie Holland - The Living and the Dead - Fox in Its Hole
11. Jolie Holland - The Living and the Dead - Your Big Hands
12. Jolie Holland - The Living and the Dead - Sweet Loving Man
13. TV on the Radio - Dear Science - Crying
14. TV on the Radio - Dear Science - Love Dog
15. TV on the Radio - Dear Science - Halfway Home
16. The unsettlers - The unsettlers - He’s Out of Nails
17. The unsettlers - The unsettlers - No No No Yes
18. The unsettlers - The unsettlers - The Commity Sounds the Alarm
19. Rae Spoon - Superior You Are Inferior - Great Lakes
20. Rae Spoon - Superior You Are Inferior - My Heart Is a Piece of Garbage. Fight Seagulls! Fight!
21. Rae Spoon - Superior You Are Inferior - Come on Forest Fire Burn the Disco Down
22. Chumbawamba - The Boy Bands Have Won - El Fusilado

No weepy, false sentiments here!

By now, most of you are well aware of the struggle the my Neighbourhood and I are involved in. Today’s show addresses some of the concerns and also (I hope) provides a pleasurable music experience… I play Woody and Arlo, Rufus and Martha, with a “smattering” of Ani and Bruce.

Go to our Facebook Group “Dangerous Development - 185 Carmarthen” to keep up with the News.

Our e-mail is: dangerdev@ymail.com

**************************

Here’s the playlist…ENJOY!

1. Everybody Knows - Rufus Wainwright - I’m Your Man Soundtrack
2. The Traitor - Martha Wainwright - I’m Your Man Soundtrack
3. Half-Assed - Ani DiFranco - Reprieve
4. You Make Me Brave - Billy Bragg - Mr Love & Justice [Deluxe Edition]
5. Mr. Love & Justice - Billy Bragg - Mr Love & Justice [Deluxe Edition]
6. I Keep Faith - Billy Bragg - Mr Love & Justice [Deluxe Edition]
7. Junkie Song - The Be Good Tanyas - Chinatown
8. House of the Rising Sun - The Be Good Tanyas - Chinatown
9. Crush in the Ghetto - Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You
10. Pilgrims Progress - Kris Kristofferson - This Old Road
11. Joe Hill - Leon Bibb and Eric Bibb - Praising Peace
12. Put on Your Robe Son - Leon Bibb and Eric Bibb - Praising Peace
13. Millennium Theater - Ani DiFranco - Reprieve
14. Ideology of Improvement - The Consumer Goods - The Anti-Imperial Cabaret
15. A Change is Gonna Come - The Consumer Goods - The Anti-Imperial Cabaret
16. Easy’s Getting Harder Every Day - Iris Dement
17. Our Town - Iris Dement
18. Fog Town - Short Sharp Shocked - Michelle Shocked
19. All’s Quiet on the Inner City Front - Bruce Cockburn - Inner City Front
20. Broken Wheel - Bruce Cockburn - Inner City Front
21. Call It Democracy [Live] - Bruce Cockburn - Live International Version
22. Ramblin”Round - Indigo Girls With Ani DiFranco - Til’ We Outnumber Them
23. ‘Til We Outnumber ‘Em (This Land Is Your Land) - Arlo Guthrie and Ensemble - Til’ We Outnumber Them