The big key in Nenshi's secondary suite policy is that the owner of the house must live in the house. This prevents slum lords and ensures tenants will be of a reasonable quality. That point should alleviate a lot of the concerns over the number and type of tenants.
After reading Nenshi's website I am surprised that anyone after reading about the candidates would vote against him. Although for me to Vote for him he needs to be with 10% of the lead or in second place. Otherwise the ABR vote kicks in. The latest poll looks promising with Ric at 40 Barb at 27 and Nenshi at 12. That is a 7% improvement and he also has the most perceived momentum. He needs to get to 20 by the next poll and then people will begin to think he is a real candidate and not a fringe candidate.
The big key in Nenshi's secondary suite policy is that the owner of the house must live in the house. This prevents slum lords and ensures tenants will be of a reasonable quality. That point should alleviate a lot of the concerns over the number and type of tenants.
After reading Nenshi's website I am surprised that anyone after reading about the candidates would vote against him. Although for me to Vote for him he needs to be with 10% of the lead or in second place. Otherwise the ABR vote kicks in. The latest poll looks promising with Ric at 40 Barb at 27 and Nenshi at 12. That is a 7% improvement and he also has the most perceived momentum. He needs to get to 20 by the next poll and then people will begin to think he is a real candidate and not a fringe candidate.
My concern is the number of people who will vote for Barb or Ric because it's anyone but the other... If you all just vote for who you think SHOULD win, perhaps the results will be different, eh?
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My concern is the number of people who will vote for Barb or Ric because it's anyone but the other... If you all just vote for who you think SHOULD win, perhaps the results will be different, eh?
I think in early polling and water cooler talk you should always be pumping your favourite candidate. But when it comes down to election day if your guy is more than 10% behind it doesn't really matter much. So I disagree that voting strategically hurts 3rd place candidates in terms of their potential to win.
Its the early polls that you need to get your candidate up in so that name brand type voters will add them to one of the options. I would really perfer a preferential ballet so that I wouldn't have to vote strategically or run off elections requiring 50%+1 of the votes but under the current system strategic voting is a necessary evil.
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After reading Nenshi's website I am surprised that anyone after reading about the candidates would vote against him. Although for me to Vote for him he needs to be with 10% of the lead or in second place.
This is a problematic. If you really want to vote for Nenshi, you would do so, and that's how he's going to break into the first or second position. Just supporting the first or second place candidate will only prop up a candidate that isn't your first choice. Why would you not vote for your first choice anyways?
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Yeah, sorry OldDutch. You're just wrong. Sunnyside is already zoned R2 for the most part, and there are probably about as many suites there as there ever will be. Some of them are legal, some of them are illegal, but regardless, the only changes in density around there are going to be more infills and more multi family.
The secondary suite issue is more for the surrounding neighbourhoods. Places taht are R1 or DC with R1 guidelines that could easily have a secondary suite in the basement, but will never qualify because of zoning.
I accept your opinions. However to the people laughing and telling me I am out to lunch. Have you reviewed this document:
Please flip to page 10. Now to the right of me is a detached garage, that could be zoned for a secondary suite. It is also my view of downtown Calgary from my backyard. So if my neighbor puts up one of these to 24 feet, I lose that view. I now look at a wall.
To the left of me is a 50" lot, and my view of McHugh Bluff from my backyard. Again, one of these "Rear Detached Garage" suites goes in to 24", and my view of the bluff from my backyard is gone. I now look at a wall.
That is just if 2 of these suites go in, where there currently is none. So 4x4, if this happens, where does my now "limited view" property value go?
Am I wrong here? If you could re assure me that this will not happen under any circumstance, then I will feel better, and possibly vote for Nenshi.
Sorry OldDutch, but you need to come to terms that you live in the urban core of a city that has near doubled in population in just over 20 years. Views aren't owned property and they are always at risk of being lost to development.
Your viewpoint on the issue is solely to protect your own interests and does not look at the larger picture.
Please flip to page 10. Now to the right of me is a detached garage, that could be zoned for a secondary suite. It is also my view of downtown Calgary from my backyard. So if my neighbor puts up one of these to 24 feet, I lose that view. I now look at a wall.
To the left of me is a 50" lot, and my view of McHugh Bluff from my backyard. Again, one of these "Rear Detached Garage" suites goes in to 24", and my view of the bluff from my backyard is gone. I now look at a wall.
That is just if 2 of these suites go in, where there currently is none. So 4x4, if this happens, where does my now "limited view" property value go?
Am I wrong here? If you could re assure me that this will not happen under any circumstance, then I will feel better, and possibly vote for Nenshi.
You are not wrong, but consider this.
With the detached garages you are talking about renovating an existing building to include an additional floor and to support utilities to house an occupant. This is a very costly and time consuming endeavor for the home owner, in the best case scenario. Far more so than adding in a kitchen and a bathroom to a basement to make it into a suitable suite. This means not many people would want to do it.
Add onto that, with all permitted renovations and constructions, which is what a new legal secondary suite would need, you need to post the notice of the development permit in advance of the construction, and receive feedback about its impact on the area. If you have a reasonable opposition to this development, it might not be able to go ahead, of course depending on the reasons.
So it could happen, but the reality is will it? I would bet it wouldn't.
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Sorry OldDutch, but you need to come to terms that you live in the urban core of a city that has near doubled in population in just over 20 years. Views aren't owned property and they are always at risk of being lost to development.
Your viewpoint on the issue is solely to protect your own interests and does not look at the larger picture.
Of course he is going to vote in his own interests, that is human nature.
I am not going to vote for someone because they will be better for the city as a whole but worse for me, unless it is a massive improvement for the city and a very minor inconvenience for me.
I won't vote for a candidate who doesn't think transit is important, because for at least the next 5 years, and likely for the rest of my working life in Calgary, I will be working downtown and taking transit. This is what is important to me.
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Rathji beat me to it. No land owner in his right mind would take Sunnyside real estate and only re-develop the back side of the property. The 50' lot on the other side is much more likely to be knocked down, subdivided, and turned into infills.
Am I wrong here? If you could re assure me that this will not happen under any circumstance, then I will feel better, and possibly vote for Nenshi.
What I can assure you is that sooner rather than later the City will legalize secondary suites. I'm very confident that either the next Council or the following Council will legalize them; their perfect storm is brewing. With this being the case, would you really be happy with both McIver as Mayor and the legalization of secondary suites?
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I just moved away, or I'd be voting for Derek McKenzie. He's a buddy of mine, and easily the most interesting and compelling person I've ever met. Smart guy, too.
In response, regarding secondary suites here are some things to think about. Voting purely on your own interests is short sighted.
- Legally approved secondary suites will be required to provide onsite parking and outdoor space.
- Local neighbourhood businesses have an increased chance of surviving or thriving with increased local population density.
- Homes with legally approved suites increase in property value.
- An increase in the number of suites creates more affordability in the rental market.
- Limiting suburban development, by increased inner city housing options, limits increased service costs for roads, transit, utilities, fire, police, snow removal, etc etc. The more the city sprawls, the associated budget increases at a higher rate per person than inner city growth. This affects either your taxes or the cities ability to provide many of the services we all use.
Of course he is going to vote in his own interests, that is human nature.
I am not going to vote for someone because they will be better for the city as a whole but worse for me, unless it is a massive improvement for the city and a very minor inconvenience for me.
I won't vote for a candidate who doesn't think transit is important, because for at least the next 5 years, and likely for the rest of my working life in Calgary, I will be working downtown and taking transit. This is what is important to me.
Rathji, thank you. My whole point was this from my first post. I never belittled anyone else, or told them they were flat out wrong in supporting Nenshi. All I said is I didn't like his stance on the issue that is most important to me.
I would have no problem supporting Nenshi if I was still a University student, or recent grad living downtown (Which I was once). I am not that anymore. I have a family, property, and lifestyle to look after. So that is why I will vote accordingly.
Sorry to some of you, but "probably" and "not likely" are subjective opinions. If/when my neighbor starts construction and displays their permit, city hall won't accept my "Wall of concrete" opinion to decline the application. They will ignore me, like they have ignored a lot of residents here during the "Secondary Suite" consultations. Money rules Calgary, and I learned that a long time ago.
Make it clear, I am not against basement suites. I encourage them. What I am against is any chance that the lifestyle I have worked so hard for, gets altered negatively because someone wants to make some bucks building and renting a place like this out.
So in the end, I am not sure I will vote McIver. I shouldn't have thrown that out, but I will make sure I investigate which candidate suits me best. Something I haven't done yet.
So in the end, it is at least another informed voter going to the ballot box, and that should make everyone happy to some degree around here.
This "only thinking about my life" position is absolutely absurd and is pretty self-centered. This isn't human nature. This is North American culture.
Why shouldn't your neighbor have the right to legally develop his property to earn rent to subsidize his already high property costs?
Why shouldn't your neighbours have the right to an affordable rent if they choose to support the strength of the city by living in the core?
Why shouldn't more city residents have the ability to end their daily commutes to the suburbs, park their cars, get on their bike, cross the river and get to work in 10 mins?
Why should I, and the rest of the citizens be forced to pay more taxes?
Why should local businesses not get increased revenue?
Why should I have to pay more than I should for providing and maintaining services to our ever expanding city's edge?
Oh, because you don't want your neighbour to block your view.
Rathji, thank you. My whole point was this from my first post. I never belittled anyone else, or told them they were flat out wrong in supporting Nenshi. All I said is I didn't like his stance on the issue that is most important to me.
I would have no problem supporting Nenshi if I was still a University student, or recent grad living downtown (Which I was once). I am not that anymore. I have a family, property, and lifestyle to look after. So that is why I will vote accordingly.
Sorry to some of you, but "probably" and "not likely" are subjective opinions. If/when my neighbor starts construction and displays their permit, city hall won't accept my "Wall of concrete" opinion to decline the application. They will ignore me, like they have ignored a lot of residents here during the "Secondary Suite" consultations. Money rules Calgary, and I learned that a long time ago.
Make it clear, I am not against basement suites. I encourage them. What I am against is any chance that the lifestyle I have worked so hard for, gets altered negatively because someone wants to make some bucks building and renting a place like this out.
So in the end, I am not sure I will vote McIver. I shouldn't have thrown that out, but I will make sure I investigate which candidate suits me best. Something I haven't done yet.
So in the end, it is at least another informed voter going to the ballot box, and that should make everyone happy to some degree around here.
Most people will install basement suites legally or illegally if they want to build one. Wouldn’t you rather have someone install a legal and inspected basement suite next to you or one that was built without an inspection and possible fire hazard?
As per my response to the last poll, I'm an ABM supporter. On election day, I'd prefer to throw my support behind either Hehr or Nenshi (their policies are similar enough that I'm comfortable voting for whoever is polling stronger and has a better chance of winning), but if both are fringe candidates, then I will strategically vote for the person with the best chance of keeping Dr. No out of the mayor's office.
Most people will install basement suites legally or illegally if they want to build one. Wouldn’t you rather have someone install a legal and inspected basement suite next to you or one that was built without an inspection and possible fire hazard?
Chris
He's not really concerned with basement suites, as he is to laneway development. That is a great point though to add to the whole debate.
Who wouldn't? Invisible sword pulled out from the pants move near the end. EPIC.
