At $270,000 a unit…
Construction of the 24-unit, $6.5-million complex — the first Manitoba Housing project to be built in Brandon in decades — began last spring, and provincial officials say completion is expected by early 2011. […]
Housing and Community Development Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross and Brandon East NDP MLA Drew Caldwell were unapologetic for the cost of the housing project, and said the project proves that affordable housing can also be esthetically pleasing.
Irvin-Ross said the 24 new housing units — half of which will be RGI (rent-geared-to-income) units — will meet the needs of Brandon families that have a large number of children, as well as First Nations and immigrant families that have recently settled in the city.
“We’re looking at what are the needs of the market,” Irvin-Ross told the Sun yesterday. “I will not apologize for making that investment in Brandon.
The full story is behind the Brandon Sun’s subscriber wall… but the poll isn’t. Is the province spending too much on new affordable housing units in Brandon? (link updated)
Uh finding people that can’t pay isn’t an investment but may be a draw for people you may not really want. Howdy neighbour.
Only a government could build an $85,000 condo for $270,000 and call it an investment.
First Nations and immigrants will get the accommodations, ensuring that no rent will be paid by the tenants, but by the welfare and immigration departments of the federal government.
I wonder how many such units are available to retirees who worked and paid taxes in Manitoba for the past 40 or 50 years.
Ya think?
*
meanwhile, in ontario… the mcslippery liberals threaten to renege
on a welfare deal they made with outgoing mayor david
miller… to embarrass incoming mayor rob ford…
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan suggested that Mr. Ford,
who campaigned in the mayoral race on reducing “waste
in the system,” should be agreeable to lowering the city’s
funding request.
*
$270K per unit? My house cost less than that. Actually my house cost a LOT less than that, and its a pretty nice house.
Sounds like some of the gold-plated flower planters we have in Hamilton Ont.
In these times, it is not cricket to criticize folks who are on welfare through no fault of their own…..that said….
A few years back here, in Woodstock, a geared to income seniors complex was built in the south end…..never had a senior….all welfare recipients.
$270,000 sounds like a whack of folk were getting paid way too much…..
The picture shows row housing…..
These are not single detatched houses with pools….
It’s Brandon……
Nice condos for sale in my town. 149,000.00. Oops privately built…
No doubt if history is any indicator these housing units will be trash within ten years.
My God.. $270,000 per unit???
Why do Manitobans elect politicians who advocate paying the sick, poor & unhealthy to reproduce?
Manitoba has a low unemployment rate. Why don’t these people get mortgages?
They could’ve easily purchased a hunnert “units” for 6.4 million smackers.
Our double lot house was less than half that price, and I’m in central Alberta. I know I got a very good bargain but my 10 year old 3 story townhouse in NW Calgary sold for less than that; and every one wonders why healthcare costs so much.
270,000 per unit? Well.Thats what commies get ya.Or unions.Same thing.
Sounds like some ‘pals’ of someone with access to purse strings is giving the taxpayers the run-a round. Another ‘outrage’ that all taxpayers are on the line for …Whitehorse just built a 10 million dollar “Health and Safety’ building ..to ‘service’ 26 thousand people. Just how ‘safe’ can we get – speaking of the latter, the Safety outfit passes out free condoms, sends us soap in the mail but can’t get the MAIN st cleared of snow. Priorities, priorities!!
Guys..if you think $270K is outrageous, check in to the Vancouver City Council’
s intention to turn a third of their units in the former Olympic Village into “social housing”.
The actual costs of the social housing units start at $600,000 and go up from there, of course, being social housing, the rent will only be a few hundred dollars per month.. Prime condo units, right on the water, in the best location in the most expensive city in Canada. The market units start at a million and go up to a peak of about $4 million. So far no-one is buying the market units…apparently they understandably do not wish to share their buildings with junkies and layabouts.
Go figure…
Here is an example of what is available in Brandon, for $170,000. that is what? $100,000. less than what is currently being built?
let’s have a look at the MLS blurb shall we…. Important commercial disclosure here: This is directly from the MLS site, and available to anyone looking to purchase a property.
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=9360472&PidKey=1751925170
“CASTLE RIDGE ESTATES. AFFORDABLE LUXURY ON BRANDON’S NORTH HILL. THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST SUITE ‘A’s IN PHASE 1 FEATURING CARMEL MAPLE CABINETS, RICH DARK COUNTERTOPS, UPGRADED FLOORING, 2 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHS, IN-SUITE LAUNDRY, INDIVIDUAL CLIMATE CONTROL WITH CENTRAL AIR, HEATED UNDERGROUND PARKING, ELEVATOR, 6 APPLIANCES INCLUDED, QUICK POSSESSION AVAILABLE.”
and it’s built in 2009, is 932 square feet, has an elevator for access to anyone, is near public transportation. …. shouldn’t someone from the government call the listing agent?
But $270,000. ? sounds to me like the unions and / or the government tendered this to their favorite brother in law… and there’s plenty of other single detached houses for less than $200,000. in Brandon. It’s not like land is super expensive.
A quick look at developed lots for sale in the city show in the $50,000. range.
If you go down to page 8-10. You will see Alberta’s Total Public Debt in 2008 was around 60B, it has grown since then. Ontario’s Total Public Debt is over 300B, Quebec’s is over 400B. In total all Provincial Debt is around 1Trillion. In the end all of this debt is added to Ottawa’s Total Public Debt bringing Canada’s Total Public Debt to around 4Trillion Dollars. Canada only has about 15-16 Million taxpayers. The rest of the 30 M citizens are too old, too young, too sick or are on some kind of entitlements. Cutbacks will come here just like in the EU and the rest of the world. Our Politicians think they can borrow and spend forever. http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:8jUbCS5Jp1IJ:www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/product_files/CanadianGovernmentDebt2008.pdf+canadian+government+debt+2008+a+guide&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj0P_nVzS6Tc3Ur6lQplD68WfZOnqVy9lIz124tNumbwWTqIj0k0MQmJlCEpL1bkuIimBD0o2hNCO-3SvshkTFs29juN_tSObFdaKr0QeZubbOW5hDq_epwWfsMqG4IA2rtSKRm&sig=AHIEtbTiwbdX5Ex4nNsa-jQwsWSxgeDLvw
Anyone want to take bets on what said units will look like after the low incomers get done beating them to death?
In my opinion low income housing should be for people who have physical or mental disabilities through no fault of their own.
Welfare mothers, Natives and new immigrants can struggle like the rest of us had to. It will build character and teach them to work for what they want.
everything is “affordable” if someone else pays for it.
YUP, just like in ‘Faith of the Fallen’ by Terry Goodkind where those that do not pull their own weight end-up living better than us working slobs.
This reminds me of my families experience with the ‘Adopt a Family’ campaign where you purchase Xmas gifts for another family. Believe me that its quite disheartening when you show-up to the home and you notice that this family has WAY more and better stuff than you do (big screen TV;s and such) and that the gifts you’ve brought will hardly fit under the second tree that is already stuffed with presents. Did I mention that the parent never even bothered coming to the door? We were just told by a kid to ‘leave the stuff over there’?
The worst part is we know there ARE families out there that could use some help during Xmas.
oops typo, that was ‘my *family’s* experience…’
must proof read
That sounds like a very expensive zoo.
Nothing is too good for Canadian losers.
Nothing is too good for Canadian losers.
Even a cursory look at freeloadin’-rural-conservative-welfare-bum-farm-subsidies could have told you that.
And yet another word for “Taxpayers Get’n The Shaft”
They could build it downrange at Shilo.
Golf one two delta, this is…
I’m currently building our dream home east of Winnipeg. Subtracting the cost of land, our building construction will put me out $310,000 for a 1,700 sq/ft bungalow.
Something’s off, and it’s not the hardwoods, tile, 10-foot ceilings and granite counters in my house.
Any time you’re willing to pay the actual cost of food and willing to key us market our own grain, Philly, just say the word.
phil;You still beaking off about farmers? As I’ve told you before,BUY A FARM! There is one for sale in my area,large enough to get started and work in the oil field,for your wife or girl(boy)friend or mother to pay for the living expenses as you seem to have an aversion to work.O,bring money and lots of it.
phil;You still beaking off about farmers?
You still got your face in the trough, don’t you?
Any time you’re willing to pay the actual cost of food
I already do and so does everyone else, plus the cost of your sorry existence. And don’t give me that market my own grain canard.
Every freeloader on the take has a lame rationalization for their sponging. We don’t need no stinking freeloadin’ farmers. Right wing hypocrisy…it never gets old.
Don’t feed rats.
Simon: “Why do Manitobans elect politicians who advocate paying the sick, poor & unhealthy to reproduce?”
An excellent question that needs to be asked of Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, but also of every other provincial premier. And Mr. Harper too!
Any right-wingers here support farm subsidies?
Phil said: “I already do and so does everyone else, plus the cost of your sorry existence. And don’t give me that market my own grain canard.
Every freeloader on the take has a lame rationalization for their sponging.”
Phil, is it fair to say that you extend this sentiment to all of those that are on government assistance and welfare? And remember, people and companies that pay taxes do not get handouts from the government, they are just getting some of THEIR money back. Only individuals and organizations that don’t pay taxes (ie governments & government funded non-profits) but get government handouts are “sponging” & “freeloading”.
Hey Phil, what do you have to say about this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msRqqs4g2_g
It’s the same everywhere. “Affordable” units in New Orleans run from $300.000/per in the St. Thomas *former* project to $175,000/per in the Fischer Housing redevelopment. Of course the middle-class sounding word “affordable” (the longed-for result) is but a new PC synonym for “subsidized” (what is actually going on for the under-class.) Worse, while I don’t know about Canada, in New Orleans (and the rest of America) rent for the old “project” units usually included utilities. These new “scatter-site, “open-plan” “campus” setting units require the tenants to pay their own utilities–thus pricing out the truly destitute and simply allowing people who could otherwise pay their own way in some form of some standard of housing to effortlessly upgrade their standard of living subsidized at tax-payer expense.
PS: I think I’ve paid my dues–I fought for my country as a volunteer in Vietnam, came back and got a PhD, paid my taxes, contributed to the community, raised a family with none of my children arrested (yet–or that I know of 🙂 ) I think I deserve to be subsidized too–only at a higher rate because of all my nifty accomplishments. The “deserving poor? Hey! I’m deserving!–I’d like a 40,000 sq ft pad like Bill Gates–only slightly more “affordable”–now all you guys pass the hat..
There dippers. They believe the money comes from Leprechauns, pots of gold. Since politicians don’t pay taxes & can double their salaries, with bonuses. Its no skin off them.
Besides its for the the New Masters they allow in.
A guy with three wives needs his comforts!
JMO
phil; How would you know what food costs? your mother buys it,with her(ahem) social assistance cheque.
“I will not apologize for making that investment in Brandon.
LOLOLOLOL. It’s not your money to invest and you don’t have to apologize because you’re going to get fired instead!!!
The $270,000 is just the beginning. The taxpayer gets hit for the cost of construction, but … the real costs are just beginning. It will be the public purse that pays the “normal wear and tear” operating and maintenance costs.
Think of it this way. Renters, especially low income aboriginal and foreign ones, are particularly dependable. Broken doors and windows, neglected appliances, damaged walls … forever! then there’s the exterior: graffiti, more damage and litter to be picked up by … a civil servant.
Yup, there’s nothing like public housing, is there?
“We’re looking at what are the needs of the market,” Irvin-Ross told the Sun yesterday.
Market? Market? How can rent geared to income units be based on the market?
The problem with RGI is the difficulty in getting these guys true income. People working in cash businesses love the concept. Single moms love the system as well, the boyfriend pays the bills and they all get a break on the rent. The sad thing, the honest people who really need it, end up on the waiting list because they don’t know how to advocate for themselves.