Quote:
Originally Posted by SebC
If you choose space over location, that's fine. Just as long as you're the one paying for it.
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I could spend 500k on a townhouse in Sunnyside and pay the same property taxes as I pay on my larger house in Hawkwood. I'd use the same amount of city services (trash, water/sewer, etc) that I do now. I'd probably use roads/transit less, which would have a capital and maintenance savings. I'd use services like pedestrian bridges over the river and outdoor pools more. Services that are only provided to inner city residents, and a few older communities that were previously independent. (Bowness/Forest Lawn).
I don't object to developers paying for new development. But I do question where the line is. Is there any level of development levy where the condescension would stop?
Some other services are also provided in a more efficient manner to newer neighbourhoods. For example, Hawkwood Elementary opened in 1993 and serves 429 students. Sunnyside school was built in 1919 and serves 148 students. Does anyone believe it's more efficient to educate children in very small, very old schools? They will naturally have higher administration and operating costs. So my property tax bill is subsidizing inefficient educational delivery for the inner city.