It is time to settle for Port Moody single-family houses are a ‘relic from a bygone period,’ argues letter-writer
Expensive Editor,
Re. “Letter: Port Moody, This Madness Has to Stop,” (Tri-Metropolis Information, Jan. 6)
We should always construct extra condos in Port Moody centre — as many as doable, truly.
Level 1: Prefer it or not, we have now extra individuals who need to reside right here than we have now housing, so we regularly have home costs and rental charges trending increased yearly.
This hurts younger households making an attempt to boost the subsequent technology of residents. This hurts new immigrants making an attempt to get a begin in our group. A scarcity of inexpensive housing hurts our financial productiveness and companies making an attempt to retain or entice expert staff, which implies increased taxes, inflation and jobs being relocated elsewhere.
Level 2: We now have to vary our dwelling habits to handle local weather change. Port Moody centre advantages from two modes of speedy transit. We ought to be placing as many houses on the SkyTrain and West Coast Specific strains as we are able to, to encourage individuals to ditch their vehicles and commute by transit and stroll to facilities.
That is certainly a greater choice than sprawling into our inexperienced areas and agricultural land base. Sadly, land is scarce in Port Moody centre, so the one place to go is up.
Level 3: We have to develop our property tax base. Extra houses imply mounted capital enchancment prices get unfold throughout a bigger tax base, limiting the necessity for property tax will increase. Opposite to the writer of this letter, Port Moody builds far fewer condos than most different suburban municipalities per capita, which is why our property taxes enhance yearly.
Level 4: Port Moody lacks tradition, leisure and eating areas. New high-density housing, anchored by strolling retail and facilities present the enterprise case for excellent retailers and restaurateurs to start out nice companies in our metropolis. That may hold us from having to go away our metropolis each time we would like a superb night time in town (as soon as COVID goes away that’s).
These of us who’re fortunate sufficient to have housing in Port Moody ought to cease making an attempt to construct partitions into our group, which is what you are doing when you’re towards the density that comes with condos.
The only-family house is a relic from a bygone period. We’re a part of a rising area and for the well being of our society, we ought to be doing every part we are able to to construct extra houses on speedy transit, not fewer.
Kyle Wright, Port Moody
