As municipalities are pushed to create more housing diversity and density, local residents are seeing exactly what that means - more people moving into their neighbourhoods.
Take Tecumseh, for example. While opposition brews over a five-storey, 71-unit condo building in the St. Clair Beach area, a second multi-unit development is being proposed. It includes a four-storey, 55-unit apartment building and a maximum of 22 townhouse units in the area of Tecumseh Rd. and Arlington Blvd. next to St. Andre French Immersion Catholic Elementary School.
Residents of nearby single-family homes have expressed concerns over privacy, traffic and potential flooding.
Mayor Gary McNamara says council will work to find the right balance for bigger buildings going into largely single-family neighbourhoods, but he stresses multi-unit developments are a new reality in growing towns.
"You can't just turn around like it was maybe 30 years ago and say, 'I'm going to build 5,000 single-family homes in the community and nothing else.Those days are gone."
The mayor says the market dictates what type of housing is built and, with an aging population, there is a demand for smaller homes with less upkeep.
"We are getting phone calls even on this particular development. Yes there is opposition to it, but there are folks that are calling — in particular seniors — that are looking for this type of development." McNamara adds, 'These huge estate lots are becoming more and more difficult to achieve."
A public open house on the new townhouse and apartment proposal was held Tuesday night. The feedback will help council and administration adjust the proposal which has yet to see any construction approved.