The Cord: Northdale Visioning Exercise Report

Well written article by Linda Givetash (as always)

thecord.ca/articles/48431

Break-ins from wrps on Oct. 11/2011

Waterloo

Brentcliffe Drive

Lester Street

State Street

Hickory Street West

letter to editor - the Record - Sept. 13, 2011

Re:

It is absurd to refuse to change the zoning of the small area in Waterloo bordered by Hazel, Hemlock, Hickory and Balsam streets from single family. There are no schools, nor children in the neighbourhood. The area has not been single family for years, and this has been acknowledged by the city in part by forcing the landlords to build parking lots in the yards of the houses. This has created a situation where the area is becoming less and less visually appealing.

In the areas surrounding these blocks, development has been rapid and constant. I am surprised that there is not more “alarm and uproar” in the city of Waterloo about the actions and inactions of the Waterloo city council.

It seems to me that by artificially manipulating the property values of this neighbourhood the city council is showing considerable bias in decisions.

Waterloo city council is not listening to the residents, nor considering the quality of life in the area, but is apparently intentionally forcing the devaluation of those properties.

This alarming whiff of bias has certainly undermined my trust in municipal politics. I think that it would behoove all of us in the area to pay close attention to the local elections and decision records of our local politicians, particularly since our attention has been on the national and provincial scene for the past couple of years.

Elizabeth Pratt

Kitchener

http://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters/article/593118--waterloo-showing-bias

TheRecord - More compact housing and basement apartments proposed...

TheRecord - More compact housing and basement apartments proposed...

Did you get your supect ID chart from wrps?

Incident # 11-206694	Type : Assault
LESTER ST, WATERLOO
Waterloo Regional Police are currently investigating a serious assault which took place in the area of Lester Street and University Ave, Waterloo at around 2:30 am. The victim was in the area when he observed a fight in which a lone male was being assaulted by a group of 10 to 15 dark-skinned males. The victim stepped in to help the lone male and was subsequently assaulted by the group of suspects. The victim suffered serious but non life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital where he was treated. Waterloo Regional Police are looking for any persons who may have witnessed the assault to contact North Division Detectives at 519-653-7700 Ext 3321 or Ext 3335 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

theCord.ca - The tie that binds Wilfrid Laurier University

The city has forced Northdale seniors (and other homeowners) into a difficult spot.
This sign of desperation is the result.
Houses rendered worthless by the recent rental housing bylaw allowing only a limited number of tenants per house in a neighbourhood where nobody else will even buy a house, means seniors have no way out without financial destruction.

Thanks to the Cord for being the first on the scene of all Waterloo media in covering this story.
I wouldn't even have known about it if not for WLU's reporting.
Kudos to them.

www.thecord.ca/articles/46313

TheRecord - Waterloo resident startles prowler

TheRecord - Waterloo resident startles prowler Not an uncommon summer incident in Northdale - year after year we have been warned about this sort of activity in Northdale. someone looking in window of house at 1:55 am.

Janes Walk of Northdale Area

Phil Elsworthy is leading a walk in Northdale on Sunday:

http://janeswalk.net/walks/view/northdale_past_and_future/

1 pm Sunday May 8 at the statue in Veteran's Green.

St. Patrick's Day parties in the university district - 570News

St. Patrick's Day parties in the university district - 570News

Northdale resident speaks to council: March 7, 2011

Madam Mayor and Council members:

Thank you for the opportunity to submit some additional facts for your consideration.

As a permanent resident, I am concerned with the special impact upon the Northdale area.

It has been well covered that many land-lords will suffer significant losses with the 3 renter rule and that many houses have been bought with maximum mortgages and a default in payments can result in foreclosure and perhaps personal bankruptcy. Foreclosures will result in financial institutions black-listing the Northdale area for mortgage investment.

Most of the remaining permanent residents in Northdale are on fixed income and, when inflation is factored in, are on diminishing disposable income. They can’t afford to loss a significant (major) portion of their assets. It should be noted that devaluation of the property values of long time residents affects us to a much greater degree than that of the landlords. We have no claim for any capital losses and will bear the full impact of these changes.

We are not helped at-all by any grand-fathering clauses.

Our homes will be hard to sell at other than fire sale prices!

.

Who will buy these houses in the Northdale area?

· Not landlords for student homes!

· Not families for residential homes!

1. The ability to obtain a mortgage in the Northdale area from a financial institution would be nil.

2. The homes are no longer designed or suitable for families and it would be costly to modify them back from student accommodation to family style.

3. Young families could no longer rent a room or two during the first years to help them get started.

4. There are no junior schools, parks, stores, neighbours or other amenities for families.

5. The large number of temporary people passing through the area would not create a suitable environment for raising small children.

6. Heavy parking demand in the area is not compatible with raising small children.

7. Several thousand students will be displaced from the adjacent area that is only a short hike to WLU creating time and travel pressures on the students who will still pass through the area to and from school.

Please consider deferring

or excluding this by-law

action in the Northdale student residence area.

Please wait for the already approved land use study for Northdale, and only then, develop appropriate zoning for this special area that is so important to the life style of our VALUABLE student population. We are a University town. The City should openly welcome these students rather than putting severe restrictions and inconvenience on their accommodations. Education is our major industry. It should be nurtured not abused.

Once the by-law is passed the results can not be undone!

Respectfully submitted by longtime Northdale Resident Jim.

Waterloo Planning Poll


http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metroline.ca%2Fsurveys%2Fwaterloo%2Fwebsurvey.htm&h=20f6b

Northdale rates low walkability score!

Walk Score

63

Out of 100

Somewhat Walkable

corner Albert/Columbia

from: walkscore.com

Considering how many people live in or very near to this corner (or work near it) this score is dismal.

Urban planning possibilities abound!

Oshawa's situation now

• Councillor suggests using square footage to determine bedrooms in student rentals

Feb 09, 2011 - 04:30 AM

Jillian Follert

OSHAWA -- Councillors have said no to a group of landlords asking to rezone three streets near Durham College and UOIT -- but the debate's not over yet.

On Feb. 7 council's development services committee unanimously shot down a proposal from Homeowners of North Oshawa that would see 133 houses on Dalhousie Crescent, Concordia Court and Niagara Drive rezoned to allow either five or six bedrooms.

"Letting us have five or six (bedrooms) makes things cheaper for the students, and it lets the landlords get the money we need to maintain the houses properly," said landlord Julie Liard.

A City bylaw limits rental homes near campus to four bedrooms, but a sunset clause allows houses on Dalhousie and Concordia to have five or six until April 30 of this year.

With time running out, landlords are trying to make the situation permanent. Council is expected to follow the committee's lead and vote down the rezoning request.

But Councillor Amy England says there is still a chance for the extra bedrooms to be allowed.

She wants to see a model that uses the square footage of a home to determine how many bedrooms are allowed and plans to raise the issue at council's finance and administration committee meeting on Feb. 10.

"It's not an arbitrary cap, it's based on the living space, which makes sense," she said. "I think that's the final piece of the puzzle, it's a compromise that can work for everyone."

Student Association president Anthony Boland told the committee his group is also in favour of using square footage.

A City report recommends denying the landlord's rezoning request, saying it contradicts plans to encourage new student housing along the Simcoe Street corridor.

"It could set an undesirable precedent, which could lead to the destabilization of other existing low density residential neighbourhoods," reads an excerpt.

Landlords say City officials are balking at the request because they're trying to "force" students out of single-family homes and into "purpose built" developments, such as the Dundurn student apartment complex.

"The City should not be promoting big business at the expense of students," said landlord Mareen Sooriyakumar, saying it's up to developers to make their prices competitive with that the landlords offer.

Tim Bird, president of the Cedar Valley Homeowners Association, told politicians this latest request represents a "crossroads" in the protracted debate over student housing in Oshawa.

He implored councillors to turn down the rezoning, saying more bedrooms available in single-family homes means less incentive for developers to build student housing projects along Simcoe Street.

"We believe it is finally time to say no to these landlords," Mr. Bird said. "For every year the status quo continues the City loses...because there's an incredible amount of tax revenue available if and when a student village is built."

Paul Vrana, president of the landlord group, said their proposal doesn't prevent development along the corridor.

He pointed out that in 2009 council opted not to impose a four-bedroom limit on rental homes across the city, because it could potentially disadvantage some families.

"Why then, is it OK to limit choice for students?" he asked.

Iron Warrior - students' take on the rhlr - dead on!

http://iwarrior.uwaterloo.ca/2011/01/19/big-trouble-for-low-rise-housing-in-waterloo/

Great read, and sums it up very well.

Jeff Henry comment in Imprint on RHLR

In regards to the rental housing license

• Jeff Henry
  Waterloo City Councillor

There has been a lot of dialogue about the new proposed rental housing licensing program and bylaw that was tabled before council in early January. As a member of council, I know we wanted an open discussion about the pros and cons surrounding this new program and bylaw as well as the opportunities for improvement. What we didn't want, and what we have been seeing, is the wrong information going out to those who will be impacted by the proposed changes.

I want to remind everyone, students in particular, that the goal of the proposed program is balancing the needs of property owners with the needs of Waterloo residents looking for safe, adequate and properly maintained rental accommodation.

As a city, we cannot proactively ensure renters have healthy and safe places to live under the current 25-year-old licensing bylaw.

A very provocative, anonymous ad ran last week announcing with great alarm that the City of Waterloo is considering implementing a new rental housing licensing bylaw that would potentially regulate all 5,000 residential rental units.

Releasing a first draft of the new bylaw was an important first step in bringing our licensing program out of the 1980s and into the 21st Century. The next step is a thorough community conversation, which the City is having with property owners, neighbours, and renters.

As the councillor who represents many of the areas near the University of Waterloo, I strongly believe that the voice of students is critical in developing the right solution. That is why city staff and I are working with the Federation of Students to hear the stories, ideas, and concerns of students on this important issue before coming back with the next draft on April 11.

Since there is still a lot of confusion and misinformation out there, I believe that you first need to have the facts:

Quality Housing - the goal of a new bylaw is to provide safer, healthier rental accommodations that are adequately maintained.

In the current draft, it means the property owner will have a parking, garbage, and property maintenance plan, kitchens, and bedrooms will be a reasonable size, and rental units will comply with fire codes.

Choice of Accommodation — the city has proactively encouraged a supply of rental units in Waterloo, including 5,000 low-density residential rental units and an increasing supply in apartments. Existing licensed lodging houses would be able to continue operating under the current draft bylaw as transitional lodging houses, and still be able to offer more than three-bedroom accommodations in a boarding house.

The city believes there will continue to be a sufficient and diverse supply of rental housing available.

Affordability - licensing fees for landlords already exist for lodging houses licensed under the old bylaw, and the new fee levels are not significantly different for these accommodations. The city also anticipates that a sufficient and diverse supply of rental housing will continue to exist in Waterloo.

While there will be some costs for currently unlicensed properties to be brought into compliance with the new rules, those costs are associated with making the property safe, and many of those costs will be one-time in nature.

As a former and relatively recent University of Waterloo student and renter, I can appreciate the need for better rental accommodations at a fair price. After all, I lived in many of the same places that you live in now. I look forward to a vigorous and thorough conversation on how we can balance the needs of property owners, neighbours, and renters in our community.

For more information on the proposal and the process, please visit waterloo.ca/rhlr.

Ward 6 councillor speaks up on RHLR

Listening on Rental Housing Licensing

As an update on my last post, News in the New Year, I have spent the last week listening to the concerns of some of those involved in rental housing in our community.

On Monday, January 10, Council received a draft Rental Housing Licensing By-law and suspended the issuing of new lodging house licenses for several months in order to give the City and the community time to discuss and deliberate on how to improve the draft by-law and serve the entire community better.

Councillors and staff have heard hundreds of complaints from lodging house owners over the last week, which validates our decision last Monday to take the time necessary to listen, deliberate, and get this right. The rental market is an important part of our community, especially for those who do not currently have the means to own their own homes.

As someone who spent his first ten years in this community as a renter, I appreciate those landlords who were responsive and took their responsibilities to provide safe and adequate housing in exchange for a fair rent seriously. We need more of those in our community, not less.

I spent five months knocking on doors last year in all parts of Ward 6. I heard loud and clear from those residents who live in and near low-density rental housing that the status quo was not acceptable.

These voices have largely been absent over the last week. I do not forget that they are out there, and it is critical that all of those connected to rental housing participate in this consultative process, whether they own it, live in it, or live next to it.

I would like to encourage renters and their neighbours to join the landlords at an open house or at the Council meeting on April 11 when the next report from staff returns to Council.

WaterlooChronicle.ca: News: Story: A basic question

WaterlooChronicle.ca: News: Story: A basic question

Northdale Residents' Letter to Council re: rhlr

January 7, 2011

Re: Rental Housing Licensing Review:

Dear Mayor Halloran and Council Members

The residents of Northdale do not see any benefit to the Northdale area or to the city as a whole from a licensing policy that restricts the number of tenants in a residential rental property in the Northdale area to less than boarding houses or licenced houses or those owned by the universities or colleges are allowed to house.

We have repeatedly asked of our councilors (past and present) that Northdale be exempted from the incoming rental housing licensing bylaw and be considered a special policy area.

Driving those students who wish to live in detached housing out of the houses in Northdale will only lead to them seeking rental rooms farther out in other residential neighbourhoods.

Given that the homes in Northdale, even those on huge lots and those which have only ever been owner-occupied, do not attract non-rental interest, this bylaw is too late to help Northdale on any criteria.

At this point it will only serve to destroy property values for those seniors who cannot hang on to their homes waiting to see what the outcome of the Land Use Study might mean for them.

There is no correlation between the number of people in a house and the problems in Northdale.

A house of 3 can still cause disturbances with parties. A rental house is still a rental house and will never lead to neighbourhood stability or preservation.

With the Northdale area currently under a Land Use Study, the Northdale residents request that council consider that Northdale be exempt from this current document and that the future rental policy for Northdale be considered in the context of the official Northdale Land Use Study.

There is nowhere better for the fair rental policy for the currently unlicenced houses to be considered than in this context as it will be considered in depth on the Land Use Study committee by many community members, some from within and some from outside Northdale.

Please remove the Northdale area from the Rental Housing Licensing bylaw through a specific exemption, and include consideration of an appropriate and suitable rental policy for this area in the Northdale Land Use Studywhere it belongs.

Sincerely

Northdale Albert Residents' Coalition

TheRecord - Waterloo plans to be first to introduce rental...

TheRecord - Waterloo plans to be first to introduce rental...