Affordable housing on Stoney Creek parking lot is a go after Horwath uses strong mayor powers | CBC News

· Posted: Apr 24, 2024 3:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 24

Affordable housing will be built on a city-owned parking lot in Stoney Creek following months of heated debate between councillors. 

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath used her strong mayor powers to override the votes of eight opposing councillors, who'd defeated staff's proposal to develop the land last month. 

She got final approval on Wednesday — more than a third of council's votes as required under provincial legislation — giving the green light for a non-profit organization to construct two buildings with 67 affordable units. 

"We absolutely must do everything we can to get people housed as quickly as possible," said Horwath at the council meeting. "The fact is adequate and affordable housing is the most pressing and urgent issue that our city is facing." 

The land at 5 and 13 Lake Ave. S. in downtown Stoney Creek is currently being used as a parking lot but is ideal for affordable housing, Horwath said. 

The area is already zoned as residential and one of the sites was marked as surplus six years ago. It's also near transit and services. 

"I am absolutely confident this decision is in the best interest of the city and our residents," said Horwath. 

'I fear for what's next,' councillor says

The parking lot-affordable housing debate has divided council. 

Downtown Hamilton councillors, the mayor and others supported building affordable housing there as a matter of principle — that in a housing crisis, every opportunity should be taken to add units. 

Stoney Creek councillors were among those against developing the site, concerned about the impact losing parking spots would have on local businesses.   

Coun. Matt Francis, who represents the area, called the mayor overriding the original vote "circumventing the democratic process" and "a stomp on the will of an entire community." 

"It's a dangerous precedent," Francis said. "I fear for what's next." 

On the other side of the debate, Coun. John-Paul Danko said he was fed up with the pushback.

"I'm trying to think if I've ever heard a discussion with more melodramatic horse shit," Danko said. "We're talking about a delta of a couple dozen parking spots. Let's move on." 

The city's housing secretariat had selected the site along with properties in other wards, which were previously approved by council. 

Horwath told councillors to expect more city land to be proposed for affordable housing in the coming months, and asked they refrain from circulating "misinformation" that creates division. 

"If we are going to tackle the housing crisis head on we have to be honest about it," Horwath said. 

"Bringing forward information that's inaccurate, or that's inflammatory, that creates more and more suspicion and anger, that is not how leadership works."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Beattie is a reporter for CBC Hamilton. She has also worked for CBC Toronto and as a Senior Reporter at HuffPost Canada. Before that, she dived into local politics as a Toronto Star reporter covering city hall.