The " NIMBY " Factor !

There are two words that excite a groundswell of public opposition when they appear in relation to a planning approval application for a new building.  One of those words is "Boarding house "and the other is "affordable housing " !

It seems that this combination immediately conjours up an expectation of down at heel tenants, drug pushers and alcoholics giving the suburb a bad name.  Objections fly thick and fast and it is usual for a threat to children to be claimed if such an establishment is given approval - and becomes a reality.

Housing by-laws are adamant that affordable housing must be present in the mix in all suburbs and boarding houses cater for single people who desire a form of communal living which provides a bed, meals and all facilities for an inclusive weekly price.  In recent times, the availability of such establishments has been steadily shrinking.

Planning approval for a new boarding house is presently awaiting a decision by Warringah Council and despite it meeting both the required regulations and the affordable housing criteria it has been met with an avalanche of objections.  Construction costs are valued at $670,000 and it will provide accommodation for just sixteen residents.

The NIMBY factor prevails.  The majority of people agree that we have an unmet need for more boarding house accommodation, just so long as it is not sited in a suburb near where they happen to live.   In this case, the northern beaches is regarded as too affluent to share with such a low cost facility !

There is no reason why a new building specifically built as a boarding house should not attract single professional people who prefer to have their living facilities provided by others. In the distant past, some boarding establishments did have a rather sordid history, but that was because many were forced to adopt that form of trading because of demographic changes.

It was common for the closure of work opportunities to disperse drinkers at a local hotel to the point where it's continuation as a hotel became unprofitable.  In many cases it lost it's liquor license and the owner was forced to try and find a new use for it's many rooms - and serving as a boarding house was a logical option.

Of course, one of the problems is the choice of name to designate the purpose stated on a building application.   Should the expression "serviced single living apartments " have been used instead of "boarding house " it is likely that many of those objections would not have been lodged.

That other description - " Affordable Housing "  has the unfortunate connection with "public housing " which in some minds brings images of squalor and unkept lawns and gardens.   The past practice of building entire suburbs of public housing created an image that sticks in many minds, despite new suburbs being planned today as a mix of private and public housing to even out that housing mix and create a new image.

Now it all depends on the resolve of that northern beaches council to judge the issue on it's merits - and approve the application if it meets the correct criteria.   Caving in to the Nimby factor should not be an option in a modern society !