Pay rent or buy food?
For many Barrie families, this is a legitimate debate right now. The municipality is one of the most expensive Canadian cities in which to rent a one-bedroom apartment — the fourth highest in July, in fact — according to online property-rental platform PadMapper. Add to that the hike in the cost to purchase a home in recent years, bumps in city development charge rates, cost-of-living increases and relatively stagnant wages and, it seems, life is becoming more unaffordable by the day, Redwood Park Communities co-founder Tim Kent said.
“Right now, a ton of families have to choose between paying rent and buying food,” he said. “It leaves no money for their kids to be involved in sports, art or music. You’re going to see a lot more negative effects from that five, 10, 15 years down the road. Families are having a very difficult time finding places that they can get into and not worry about being kicked out of because they can’t keep up with their rent payment. We’re seeing the pressure on working families. The more increases we see in property prices the more people it keeps out of the market.”
And that, in part, is what makes the city’s Community Improvement Plan so critical, Kent said.
The municipality’s Planning and Building Services department just released its 2018 progress report on the plan. Through various CIPs, the city has invested about $3.7 million in projects aimed at “redevelopment, reconstruction and rehabilitation of any area whose improvement is considered desirable for various environmental, social or community economic reasons” over the last 14 years.
Those projects have led to an assessment increase of more than $40 million, city planner Edward Terry said.
CIPs are permitted under Ontario’s Planning Act. They are used as a tool for municipalities to provide financial incentives, in the form of loans or grants, to property owners to help cover upgrade costs.
In 2018, the city committed $483,284 in grants through its Built Boundary CIP, which focuses on key intensification areas such as major transit stations, the downtown and sections of Bayfield, Yonge and Dunlop streets.
Through this CIP, the city was able to approve grants to assist in the development of 35 affordable housing units and two “significant” redevelopment projects in 2018. The plan is also catching on in popularity — 26 funding applications were received last year, Terry said.
The city committed to the 12-unit family housing and support centre on the Salvation Army’s Lillian Crescent property ($197,288), Redwood’s five-unit temporary housing project on Essa Road for those experiencing chronic homelessness and addiction issues ($152,115), Habitat for Humanity developments on Anne ($57,269) and Centre ($49,708) streets, and the construction of five units in vacant space at a Melchior Management apartment building ($26,904).
Pest Control Barrie
The mild, rainy ocean climate has long been the envy of Canadians looking to escape the cold of more eastern provinces. But the conditions that make Barrie appealing to humans are exactly the same that make it an ideal home for pests who wouldn’t be able to survive the cold dry winters further east.
The dense vegetation that covers much of Barrie is home to a wealth of wildlife and associated pests that thrive in the temperate climate. As ONT’s primary gateway to Pacific trade, Barrie harbours also offer some unique challenges for pest control and require continuous monitoring and prevention to ensure that infestations don’t take hold.
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a pest problem. They can become a huge issue, whether you’re a homeowner or a business manager. That’s why Natural Pest Solutions offers pest control services in Surrey and the surrounding areas like. If you find unwanted rodents, insects, or other wildlife on your property, give us a call. We offer flexible hours so you can call us any time of day, any day of the week.
Natural Pest Solutions
Barrie, ON, Canada
(705) 302-7404
https://mynaturalpestsolutions.com/ca/pest-control-barrie/
