Faced with citizen protest, the Sherbrooke city council said no to a zoning change that would have allowed the construction of 144 housing units in two six-storey buildings in the Fleurimont sector, at a time when the housing crisis is worsening in the municipality.
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The land where these towers would have been built is located between King Street East and Council Street, near Galt Street East.
The neighbors are mainly opposed to the destruction of this woodlot.
“They mobilized once morest this project for environmental reasons, but also because of the absence of the promoter”, supported the district councilor of the Hôtel-Dieu, Laure Letarte-Lavoie. “The developer had committed to meeting with citizens and he did not do so, nor did he suggest any mitigation measures.”
Joined by TVA Nouvelles, promoter Robin Fortier indicated that he intended to file a new application, which would be more in line with the requirements of the community.
Associations of tenants and landlords, however, have sounded the alarm regarding the housing crisis affecting Sherbrooke, while the one experienced last July was nothing compared to the one that will arise in six months.
“We are heading straight into a wall, and the wall is thicker and harder than last year,” predicted the director general of the Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec in Estrie , Sylvain Matthew.
Even following a record year of 2,600 units built in 2021 in Sherbrooke and a forecast of 2,400 more in 2022, the number of housing units will be insufficient.
“The supply is smaller than the demand. The only solution is to increase the supply. If we don’t develop more new streets, people will go elsewhere,” he said.
Mario Mercier, spokesperson for the Association of tenants of Sherbrooke, also believes that the crisis will be worse than last year and has issued a serious warning. “Unless your home is unsafe, you definitely don’t move.”
In terms of good news, the 116 social housing project on rue Galt, which had been put on ice before the holidays due to a major cost overrun, might soon be unblocked.
“We are told that there are confidentiality agreements signed between the Government of Quebec and the Office municipal d’habitation de Sherbrooke, it’s a good sign, it means that we can expect great announcements soon”, mentioned the mayoress of Sherbrooke, Évelyne Beaudin, while adding that an emergency committee on the question of housing will be formed.
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