Thursday, July 02, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
What we can do.........
Are you Concerned about the Conversion of Apartments into Condominiums in Regina?
Please Phone the City Councillors to Let Them Know You Oppose the Conversion of Apartments into Condominiums
In the past 14 months, the Regina City Council has approved the conversion of 366 apartments into condominiums. Another 135 are set to go to city council on June 22 and more at following meetings.They have done this at a time when the vacancy rate is well below 1%, meaning that there are virtually no apartments available for rent in the city. A lack of rental property in the city will mean:
· An increase in the number of people using emergency shelters;
· Overcrowding in existing apartments;
· More people sleeping rough;
· More people moving from place to place each night, including children;
· Seniors having to move from their long-term homes into less adequate accommodation.
The movement of rental accommodation into purchased accommodation means that there are less housing options available in the city. This situation also drives rents up.Developers stand to gain millions of dollars when their apartment buildings are turned into condominiums. They move forward in converting their apartments before approval is received because they are so certain that city council will rubber stamp their application.City council treats renters as second class citizens. Tenants have a right to affordable, safe, secure and adequate accommodation.
Phone your city councilors and let them know that you are concerned about their unconditional support of developers at the expense of the needs of the average people of Regina.
Ward 1: Louis Browne……………..531-5151
Ward 2: Jocelyn Hutchison………...584-1739
Ward 3: Fred Clipsham…………….757-8212
Ward 4: Michael Fougere…………..789-5586
Ward 5: Bill Gray…………………..761-0919
Ward 6: Wade Murray……………...596-1035
Ward 7: Sharron Bryce……………..949-5025
Ward 8: Michael O’Donnell………..545-7300
Ward 9: Terry Hincks……………….949-9690
Ward 10: Jerry Flegel………………..777-6689
Alternately, email the city councillors. Email addresses are available on this website: http://www.regina.ca/Page1105.aspx
Suggested text:I am very concerned about the conversion of apartments into condominiums in Regina. Not only are you are reducing the number of rental units in the city at a time when vacancy rates are low, you are also causing hardship to people who are being forced to uproot themselves and to find alternate accommodation in this tight rental market. I encourage you to take into consideration all citizens of Regina, not just the developers who stand to gain financially at the expense of people in rental accommodation. I am opposed to any further conversion of apartments into condominiums in Regina. I ask that you deny any further apartment into condomimium conversion that comes before city council.
More facts:
The experience in Saskatoon, and now in Regina, is that many condominiums remain unsold as there is insufficient demand to buy these small units in old buildings that were constructed for apartment style living.
Landlords then rent these unsold condominiums out at high rents which are unaffordable for the average working person, not to mention people on fixed incomes such as seniors and people with disabilities.
Many people choose to rent, or must rent, for a number of reasons:
It is proven that for people who move frequently, such as some professionals or young people, it is more financially prudent to rent than to continually purchase new homes.
The newcomers to the city, who are being encourage to move here, require rental accommodation particularly when they first arrive.
People on low and fixed incomes, such as people in the service industry, rent because the monthly cost is more affordable.
Students typically live in rented accommodation.
Seniors, who are a rising segment of the population, may want to sell their homes in order to have access to the equitey, and for the ease and convenience of apartment life.
City council’s response is to keep 75% of the units in the converted building as rental. This is not a solution because:
These units would remain as rental only for 5 years or until the vacacy rate reaches 3% whichever comes first.
There is only a minimal penalty of $2500 to the developer if he decides to ignore the above stipulation, which is a small fraction of the anticipated selling price. This amount is not a penalty at all. These 75% will be converted eventually.
Landlords have said that the rents will go up whether the property remains an apartment or is turned into a condominium. When the property remains a rental property, the landlord justifies the increase in rent because he must fix common areas of the building for the condominium owners. It is not uncommon for no improvements to be made to the rented apartments.
We can stop these conversions.
We are orgnanized and we need to show the councillors that we know how to take action!
Please call Peter, Diane or Christina at 352-6386 (Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry) if you would like to get involved or if you would like more information.
Please Phone the City Councillors to Let Them Know You Oppose the Conversion of Apartments into Condominiums
In the past 14 months, the Regina City Council has approved the conversion of 366 apartments into condominiums. Another 135 are set to go to city council on June 22 and more at following meetings.They have done this at a time when the vacancy rate is well below 1%, meaning that there are virtually no apartments available for rent in the city. A lack of rental property in the city will mean:
· An increase in the number of people using emergency shelters;
· Overcrowding in existing apartments;
· More people sleeping rough;
· More people moving from place to place each night, including children;
· Seniors having to move from their long-term homes into less adequate accommodation.
The movement of rental accommodation into purchased accommodation means that there are less housing options available in the city. This situation also drives rents up.Developers stand to gain millions of dollars when their apartment buildings are turned into condominiums. They move forward in converting their apartments before approval is received because they are so certain that city council will rubber stamp their application.City council treats renters as second class citizens. Tenants have a right to affordable, safe, secure and adequate accommodation.
Phone your city councilors and let them know that you are concerned about their unconditional support of developers at the expense of the needs of the average people of Regina.
Ward 1: Louis Browne……………..531-5151
Ward 2: Jocelyn Hutchison………...584-1739
Ward 3: Fred Clipsham…………….757-8212
Ward 4: Michael Fougere…………..789-5586
Ward 5: Bill Gray…………………..761-0919
Ward 6: Wade Murray……………...596-1035
Ward 7: Sharron Bryce……………..949-5025
Ward 8: Michael O’Donnell………..545-7300
Ward 9: Terry Hincks……………….949-9690
Ward 10: Jerry Flegel………………..777-6689
Alternately, email the city councillors. Email addresses are available on this website: http://www.regina.ca/Page1105.aspx
Suggested text:I am very concerned about the conversion of apartments into condominiums in Regina. Not only are you are reducing the number of rental units in the city at a time when vacancy rates are low, you are also causing hardship to people who are being forced to uproot themselves and to find alternate accommodation in this tight rental market. I encourage you to take into consideration all citizens of Regina, not just the developers who stand to gain financially at the expense of people in rental accommodation. I am opposed to any further conversion of apartments into condominiums in Regina. I ask that you deny any further apartment into condomimium conversion that comes before city council.
More facts:
The experience in Saskatoon, and now in Regina, is that many condominiums remain unsold as there is insufficient demand to buy these small units in old buildings that were constructed for apartment style living.
Landlords then rent these unsold condominiums out at high rents which are unaffordable for the average working person, not to mention people on fixed incomes such as seniors and people with disabilities.
Many people choose to rent, or must rent, for a number of reasons:
It is proven that for people who move frequently, such as some professionals or young people, it is more financially prudent to rent than to continually purchase new homes.
The newcomers to the city, who are being encourage to move here, require rental accommodation particularly when they first arrive.
People on low and fixed incomes, such as people in the service industry, rent because the monthly cost is more affordable.
Students typically live in rented accommodation.
Seniors, who are a rising segment of the population, may want to sell their homes in order to have access to the equitey, and for the ease and convenience of apartment life.
City council’s response is to keep 75% of the units in the converted building as rental. This is not a solution because:
These units would remain as rental only for 5 years or until the vacacy rate reaches 3% whichever comes first.
There is only a minimal penalty of $2500 to the developer if he decides to ignore the above stipulation, which is a small fraction of the anticipated selling price. This amount is not a penalty at all. These 75% will be converted eventually.
Landlords have said that the rents will go up whether the property remains an apartment or is turned into a condominium. When the property remains a rental property, the landlord justifies the increase in rent because he must fix common areas of the building for the condominium owners. It is not uncommon for no improvements to be made to the rented apartments.
We can stop these conversions.
We are orgnanized and we need to show the councillors that we know how to take action!
Please call Peter, Diane or Christina at 352-6386 (Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry) if you would like to get involved or if you would like more information.
Dream Team Gardening
Join us this summer, every week in the Community Gardens.
The North Central Community Gardens are planted, maintained, and enjoyed by volunteers and residents of North Central Regina! We will meet weekly to weed, clean up, water and harvest in the gardens. Come one time or come every time, all are welcome!
Community Gardens Drop in and Volunteer:
Weds, 4 p.m. and Thurs, 10 a.m.
Meet in front of Albert Scott Community Centre - 1264 Athol St.
We will meet in front of the building.
On bad weather days, we will meet upstairs.
For more information call 766-7549.
The North Central Community Gardens are planted, maintained, and enjoyed by volunteers and residents of North Central Regina! We will meet weekly to weed, clean up, water and harvest in the gardens. Come one time or come every time, all are welcome!
Community Gardens Drop in and Volunteer:
Weds, 4 p.m. and Thurs, 10 a.m.
Meet in front of Albert Scott Community Centre - 1264 Athol St.
We will meet in front of the building.
On bad weather days, we will meet upstairs.
For more information call 766-7549.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Housing and homelessness
Slum housing and various forms of homelessness are a huge issue here in our community. The forecast says it is going to get even tougher.
What are we doing about these issues?
What are some possible solutions?
Links:
http://homelessnation.org/en/node/339
http://www.rqhealth.ca/diy_pubhealth/pdf_files/ceac_7012.pdf - Street Survival Guide
http://www.pathwaysregina.com/
What are we doing about these issues?
What are some possible solutions?
Links:
http://homelessnation.org/en/node/339
http://www.rqhealth.ca/diy_pubhealth/pdf_files/ceac_7012.pdf - Street Survival Guide
http://www.pathwaysregina.com/
Monday, January 12, 2009
Dress for Success
www.dressforsuccess.org
Dress for Success® Regina
3025 - 13th Avenue
Phone: 306.54.DRESS (543.7377)
"Our mission is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Our programs transition women towards self-sufficiency by addressing their social and economic needs in relation to career, home and community. Each woman is a success story by journeying from unemployment down the road to economic independence."
Thursday, October 16, 2008
R Healthy Food Store
New Hours!
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Mondays to Fridays
Located at Albert Scott Community Centre
Friday, April 18, 2008
Spay Program
The Regina Humane Society has a new program for low income families. They will spay female cats for free. They will even pick up and deliver.
For more information, leave your name and phone number at: 522-7729.
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=505a7e7e-b9dc-451a-be52-6e7b6c71e87c&k=46884
For more information, leave your name and phone number at: 522-7729.
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=505a7e7e-b9dc-451a-be52-6e7b6c71e87c&k=46884
Friday, March 28, 2008
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