Monday, October 19, 2009 Capital Region Board Votes to Increase Housing Densityby Ben Officer on Mon, Oct, 19, 2009 11:27 AM
Cities such as Edmonton, St Albert, and Sherwood Park are set to begin planning for higher housing density to help prevent urban sprawl. In addition to reducing sprawl, this will make transit systems more affordable and make areas more accessible for walking to amenities.
The idea of increasing the housing density makes economic sense for transit planning, land preservation, and property taxes although it also causes issues with the segment of the population that wants to live in a city but not feel like they live on top of their neighbours.
The planned housing density will be 30 to 45 housing units on a residential hectare. St Albert says it has a density average of about 18, with it's Sturgeon sub-division having the lowest density of approximately 13.5 units per hectare.
The City of St Albert has a section on it's webpage about the proposed “Smart Growth” plan and its basis. You can find it at:
http://www.stalbert.ca/uploads/files/Smart%20Growth/Weekly_Bulletins/July%2023-09%20Bulletin%202%20-%20Capital%20Region%20Land%20use.pdf
The other question I have is how will these density targets affect infill developments in Edmonton, St Albert, and Sherwood Park. Existing neighbourhoods could be dramatically affected by these developments.
Now, for those considering Edmonton real estate or St Albert real estate purchases, older established neighbourhoods may have some extra draw due to their lower housing densities. Its truly a choice to be made, weighing all your options.
Ben Officer REALTOR®
RE/MAX Real Estate (Edmonton) |
| *** The author of this blog, Ben Officer, is a licensed REALTOR® in the province of Alberta. The opinions expressed within this blog are those of the author and are simply that, opinions. The views expressed in this blog are not intended to advise you, as your needs may differ depending on your particular situation. The information provided in this blog is not guaranteed to be accurate and is subject to change at any time. For legal advice/information, please consult a lawyer. For mortgage advice/information, please contact a licensed Mortgage Associate. For tax advice/information, please consult an accountant. For investment advice/information, please contact a financial advisor. *** Blog Disclaimer - The information contained within this blog and posted by the author is believed to be true but cannot be guaranteed to be so. The author of this blog takes absolutely no responsibility for the comments posted by third parties on this blog. |
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