St. Albert Habitat homes well under way despite initial resistance

Monday morning, the mayor, along with a couple of councillors, toured the controversial Habitat for Humanity homes being built in St. Albert.

Construction is well under way and the project will see 20 families move in by this Christmas and another 10 families move in by Spring 2013.

The project, which was originally planned for 54 units, has been scaled back to 30 units due to push back from residents.

Many in the community opposed the Habitat homes when they were first announced due to traffic, noise, and parking concerns, but the mayor says all the issues have been addressed.

“There is no question in my mind that the community will welcome 30 new families,” Mayor Nolan Crouse says.

“While there was controversy, I think for the most part, the controversy was more localized, there were legitimate concerns and the legitimate concerns were addressed.”

Crouse says council has received a lot of support across the community, but some residents say they are still upset.

One man, who did not want to be identified, says he feels city council and Habitat for Humanity have not listened to residents.

“Don’t let them kid you. There’s still a bitter taste in people’s mouths,” he says.

He was one of fourteen residents that filed a lawsuit in 2010 against the city of St. Albert in an attempt to stop the sale and rezoning of land for Habitat for Humanity development.

The lawsuit has since been dropped.

Barb Lovegrove, another resident in the community, says she has mixed feelings about the project.

“In one way, I’m really happy and excited for the new families that will be getting their homes and in another we’re sort of losing a bit of our green space.”

Named Aurora Place, the dozens of duplexes are being built on what was once a surplus school site, a green space.

Habitat for Humanity Edmonton President & CEO, Alfred Nikolai, says the loss of grass was one of the biggest reasons for the push back from residents, but says Habitat is all about helping families.

“There are so many families that want to raise their kids in St. Albert; they love St. Albert.”

With files from Kendra Slugoski.