Hamilton ACORN and allies demand action on promise for affordable housing from LRT
Posted May 16, 2022
Posted May 16, 2022
Today ACORN, the Hamilton Community Benefits Network and Environment Hamilton held a press conference in front of City Hall to urge the City of Hamilton to pass a bold inclusionary zoning before 2023.
The inclusonary zoning tool is one open to cities like Hamilton to mandate that developers must include affordable housing in their new construction.
With development booming the City of Hamilton does not have to wait for the Province or the Federal Government to take action on affordable housing.
Back in March, our groups held an online town hall that brought together local organizations, community members and guest speakers from Toronto to discuss the urgent need for the city to use all tools and powers available to take action on the housing crisis. Toronto ACORN and Toronto City Councillor joined to share lessons learned from Toronto as the first city to pass inclusionary zoning in Ontario.
The Video from that Town Hall can be viewed on Youtube or check it out here:
A strong Inclusionary zoning policy will be instrumental in creating affordable units along the LRT route and current and future GO Transit Stations. Unfortunately city staff have targeted late 2023 to look into the policy for Hamilton.
Stoney Creek member Anica Rak spoke at the conference and laid our ACORN’s demands for an inclusionary zoning bylaw.
After the press conference ACORN, HCBN and Environment Hamilton delegated to the LRT subcommittee to call on the city to move up the timeline for implementing inclusionary zoning.
City Councillors will report back on next steps for accelerating the development of inclusionary zoning. More to come!
Press:
CBC News: Hamilton residents urge city to make affordable housing mandatory along LRT route
Hamilton Spectator: Advocates call for faster action by Hamilton on LRT affordable housing
CHCH News: ACORN, HCBN, Environment Hamilton demand action on affordable housing from LRT (VIDEO)
The Public Record: Hamilton’s LRT Committee Meeting for the First Time Since 2017
The Public Record: Affordability ‘Crisis’ along Hamilton LRT Corridor Needs to Be Addressed Before It Gets Worse, Say Resident Groups
Global News: Tenant advocates push for affordable housing along Hamilton LRT route