Should Guelph build affordable housing on parkland?

The idea of building affordable housing in some of the parks in Guelph has been debated by city councillors over the past week.

In February, Guelph’s mayor called on city staff to look into city-owned property and see what could be used for housing. During a council meeting last Wednesday, Guelph councillors approved a motion to defer discussing calls for proposals of the parkland. That will come back to council July 23 to be ratified.

The parks in question include Sleeman’s Park and Hugh C. Guthrie Park.

Ward 3 Coun. Phil Allt was on The Mike Farwell Show July 11 and said he thinks it sets a dangerous precedent, adding he doesn’t support the idea.

“The last 30 to 40 years we’ve been fighting tooth and nail for more green space. That matters especially to people who don’t have the means to vacate to say Muskoka or Sauble Beach or even Canada’s Wonderland. Our green spaces are for everyone,” said Allt.

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“We need to look both at the community, at the province and the federal government for surplus lands that are not dedicated to green space. We have lots of those in Guelph. We also have to be mindful that we have 6,000 units right now approved for development in Guelph that are not being developed and some of those go back 20 years.

Allt wants them to look at other areas and thinks there is plenty of other space available for affordable housing.

“It’s not going to be solved overnight, and dare I say it’s not gong to be solved in a decade and it won’t be solved by putting 30 units in a park.”

About 6,000 housing units have been approved for development in Guelph that are just sitting there, he added.

Allt thinks that is mostly due to interest rates and problems in the construction industry with supply or staffing.

“We are not going to run over people’s parks, or people’s concerns about zoning or building code or anything else. It has to be done properly,” said Allt.