'Unavailable or unaffordable': Banff looks to tackle housing crisis
The Town of Banff is hoping a new affordable housing strategy can make a dent in the community's housing crisis.
"Housing is either unavailable or unaffordable," said Mayor Corrie DiManno.
"It's absolutely heartbreaking when there are people in your community who are struggling to just survive," she said.
Town officials say the current shortfall for housing is about 700 to 1,000 units.
The project recommended by town staff is located at the Tatanga Ridge Benchlands site and would provide more than 250 units, with a mix of rentals and for-purchase housing.
It sits on 5.8 acres of land and would not have to be rezoned as it's designated for residential use.
Officials say apartments, row homes and townhomes could all be built at the site.
"We need to be making bold action. We need to be taking innovative approaches," DiManno said.
Shawayne Dunstan moved to Banff in May of 2021.
"That was due to an internship because of Humber College and I was very fortunate to have the Fairmont hire me and offer me affordable housing necessarily," he said.
"I can only imagine how it is for many members of the community to be in search of that and in need."
Dunstan says he has seen a drastic change in the cost of living.
"Living has definitely gone up with inflation," he said.
"It's been very hard and definitely an impact between whether you want parking or whether you want housing, and then also the cost of like groceries and all. Hard decisions are needing to be made."
Council was tasked on Monday to amend the capital budget for 2023 through 2032 by an additional $300,000 through the Community Housing Reserve to allow for a site analysis, including a geotechnical investigation, slope stability analysis and site pre-designs.
The total cost of the project -- if approved -- is not known, but town officials are hopeful for funding from all levels of government.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm. Florida orders evacuations
Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm off Mexico and threatens Florida, forecasters say.
'Selfish billionaire': Chip Wilson's mansion vandalized after political sign erected outside
Days after a political sign was erected outside Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.
Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother and a Grammy-winning singer, dies at 91
Cissy Houston, the mother of the late Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin, has died. She was 91.
Two people injured in apparent road rage incident, shooting in Toronto
Two people are in hospital after they were chased and shot at in what appears to be an act of road rage before eventually flipping their car while trying to escape, police say.
Canadian soldier wins compensation for cancer linked to burn pits after Veterans Affairs denied claim
A Canadian soldier who was exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits while serving in Afghanistan has been awarded full medical compensation for testicular cancer after Veterans Affairs initially denied his claim.
Sammy Basso, longest living survivor of rare rapid-aging disease progeria, dies at 28
Sammy Basso, who was the longest living survivor of the rare genetic disease progeria, has died at the age of 28, the Italian Progeria Association said on Sunday.
Senior charged after minivan set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall
The day after a minivan was set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall, a 78-year-old man has been criminally charged.
A Canadian woman was recently diagnosed with scurvy. Here are the factors tied to the disease
Scurvy is not just an archaic diagnosis of 18th-century seafarers and doctors should watch for possible cases, according to researchers following a recent case.
Canadian leaders, demonstrators hold events on anniversary of Oct. 7 attack
Ceremonies, events and protests are being held across Canada today to mark the anniversary of a Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.