‘We have a need’: Edmonton city council debates affordable housing sites

As Edmonton city council discusses selling of surplus school sites below market value for affordable housing — community members in Wedgewood Heights in southwest Edmonton say, they’re not against affordable housing in their neighbourhood — but say selling below market value takes dollars out maintaining their community. 

“We have no issues with affordable housing,” said Leah Widynowski, a Wedgewood community member. “We know what’s going on in our city, we know it’s an important initiative.”

On Wednesday, an executive committee at Edmonton city hall debated selling off 11 surplus school sites across the city — to be used as sites for affordable housing. 

Widnowski says she’s not a nimby — but points to the Municipal Government Act which says proceeds from surplus land sites like this have to be put towards community reserves. 

“Those funds are given back, to the community and the surrounding neighbourhoods,” she said. “To support parks and recreation in the area.”

Wednesday afternoon, the executive committee voting to put this issue before all city councillors in a vote early next month. 

“We have a need for affordable housing in our city,” said Amarjeet Sohi, mayor of Edmonton. “Close to 50,000 households need access to adequate appropriate housing.”

“And we are working hard to fill that need.”

Sohi frustrated by what he says are delays from some of his fellow councillors — when it comes to building affordable housing. 

“It seems like some of my colleagues are gatekeepers,” said the mayor. “They want to control everything instead of letting our administration decide and move forward quickly on building 900 affordable homes that we can build in our city in a couple months.”

But for Widnowski, she believes if this goes forward her neighbourhood will be at a loss — if the sale impacts the soccer field and small skating rink

“That alone could be $1.5 million cost just to replace the soccer field,” said Widnowski. “If that surplus site gets built, that skating rink will no longer be able to be housed there.”