In class right now we are doing a project called city 20/20. Now you make think 2020 the year but it is actually 20/20 means perfect vision. So the project we are doing is basically called a perfect city or City 20/20.
We have been assigned to small little groups and the groups are Affordable Housing, Food Production, Transportation, Waste management and Energy provision. Currently I am in Affordable Housing.
We got sent problems from the mayor of Victoria and these are the problems:
Food Production
- What innovative partnerships and technologies could help us increase food production in the City?
- The average age of farmers in BC is very high (55.7 years in 2011). How do we get young people in the City interested in farming as a career? How do we “grow new farmers” in the City?
- If we want our region to produce and consume 25% of its food locally, what foods should we focus on? Which crops have the least ecological impact, are part of a healthy and balanced diet, and can be produced in our climate?
Housing:
- How might we make housing in the community affordable to people in the second and third income quintiles (incomes ranging from $20,000 to $65,000 per year)?
- How do ensure our community works for people at each end of the age spectrum – 2 year olds and 82 year olds?
Transportation:
- How do we double the amount of people that ride buses in 2 years?
- How do we triple the amount of people that commute to work by bike in 3 years?
Waste Management:
- What are the three most effective and affordable ways that I can change my lifestyle to reduce waste that goes to landfill?
Energy Provision
- How to get regular citizens involved in taking action on climate change?
- How could my family reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, within 3 years (in transportation and building energy)?
*written by Mayor, Lisa Helps
My group is Housing and so my questions are
- How might we make housing in the community affordable to people in the second and third income quintiles (incomes ranging from $20,000 to $65,000 per year)?
- How do ensure our community works for people at each end of the age spectrum – 2 year olds and 82 year olds.
The main question we are working on in my group is the first one.
ColePontefract 
Maybe the city could provide housing to people in those income brackets and have them contribute in some way to the neighborhood through volunteering, repairs, maintenance, etc. Some program that allows them to live in this city-provided housing while ‘donating’ their time to their housing neighborhood is key.
Interesting questions!
Perhaps one answer could be for the city to buy land for house construction. Build energy efficient houses and lease the land to the home buyer over a 100 year term. The home owner would then require a lower deposit ( based on the property costing less due to the land component being absent) and a manageable mortgage payment, for the same reason. The home owner could elect to pay off the land lease at any time, or include it in the sale, if the property is sold.
Thus facilitating the purchase of a home, previously unattainable due to mortgage being higher that income would support and deposit being beyond saving capability
Can’t wait to read your proposed solutions.