10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 8, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Sparks fly at DND lands information meeting Neighbours object to transitional housing or social housing By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The idea of placing transitional housing on the Department of National Defence lands, located in the area of Dorval Drive and Rebecca Street, drew both jeers and cheers from residents during a public information meeting Wednesday night. The meeting, hosted by the Town and attended by about 60 people, was intended to give residents the opportunity to comment on what they would like to see happen with the area when the federal government finally vacates, sometime between next year and five years from now. However, many also took the opportunity to express their opposition to a proposal by the Region of Halton to establish three temporary transitional homes on the site to serve as shelters for families in crisis. "We couldn't even find one person who thought that was a good idea," said Catherine Bobesich, who noted she was speaking on behalf of 300 residents living in the area around the DND lands. Bobesich, and those behind her, also had a problem with the Town's plan to develop the area into a mix of homes -- for new families, empty nesters and second-time homebuyers -- priced at around $350,000. She voiced concerns about what the addition of the proposed 80-90 residential units would do to traffic in the area and also raised questions about the price point. "Why would we be going below the average in a residential area that has homes in the $500,000 to $1 million range?" asked Bobesich. "We need to protect our property values. I think that's something OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO CENTRE OF CONTROVERSY: The nearly vacant military housing complex on the Department of National Defence lands on the corner of Tudor Avenue and Rebecca Street was the centre of a heated public information meeting on Wednesday. that needs to be considered and Still other residents sided with "We need to protect our there should be respect for the the position of the majority of property values. I think that's people that have been here for 20Town Council, noting that any something that needs to be 30 years, who have paid taxes and habitation, no matter how tempoconsidered and there should supported Oakville." rary, could delay future developbe respect for the people Bobesich said that those she ment of the site. that have been here for represented would like to see a mix "There's always propaganda for 20-30 years, who paid taxes of housing for the area at prices temporary emergency measures. and supported Oakville." ranging from $350,000 to The biggest temporary emergency $650,000. measure ever enacted was income Catherine Bobesich, speaking RoseAnna Della Penna said tax to finance the First World War. against a plan to use three of transitional housing on the DND I guess we're still financing that the DND houses for transitional lands was not necessary. war," said Gord Bobesich. housing "I had a rental property that was "Once they get their foot in empty for a year and a half and I in crisis in motels, while another there it's going to be an ongoing was only charging $1,000 for a resident expressed doubt that the temporary measure. So thank you, 1,400-square-foot semi, so there $100,000 the Region is proposing but no thank you." are plenty of vacancies if you look to spend to make three of the existWhile many had issues with ing DND homes habitable would transitional housing being estabfor them," she said. "I work in social services and be enough to give the families who lished on the DND lands, the idea my heart is there, but Ward 2 has would stay there a safe place to also had its supporters, with forenough subsidized housing. I live. mer Ward 1 Councillor Mike "You've talked about lead in the Lansdown speaking about who think it's time we share the water and mold in the walls. I per- would actually be helped by this wealth." Another resident asked what sonally would rather live under the measure. was wrong with the Region's cur- Kerr Street bridge than in one of "Three years ago in my ward we rent policy of putting up families those houses," he said. had a fire in a 10-storey apartment building. The fire went up the elevator shaft and we had to clear that building. So we had to find emergency accommodation for Oakville residents in Oakville and it was difficult," said Lansdown. "All of us are only one crisis away from needing emergency housing, and with what is going on in the economy today, I think many of us are a lot closer to that situation." Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar noted that no one disputes there is a need for emergency housing, but said there must be a better way than spending $100,000 on a project that would only help a few families. Lansdown said the Region is constantly looking for emergency housing opportunities and noted that if such housing existed, the Region would have found them. Mayor Rob Burton said that because Lansdown did not live in the area his views on the issue might be different than those of the residents. "I think that's rather an unfair comment, but I'll accept it," said Lansdown. Home Suite Hope co-founder and recent Athena Oakville 2008 award winner Wendy Perkins argued for the transitional housing noting that the existing emergency housing for Oakville's less fortunate borders on inhumane. "This is not housing any one of you would stay in for one night. When I go and visit the people there, I don't sit on the beds because they are full of fleas. You can hear mice and you see the police every night because there's domestic abuse going on," she said. "This has nothing to do with the families that are placed there, it's the Burlington neighbourhood those motels are in. To displace families in Oakville to that housing is a shame." Burton countered that it was not a choice between either transitional housing at the DND lands or See Mayor page 12