Glen Elm Trailer Park resident suggests Taylor Field site be rezoned for mobile homes
City already looking at building affordable housing on the site
A resident of Regina's Glen Elm trailer court wants the City of Regina to rezone the former Taylor Field to allow manufactured homes on the site.
"It's really an ideal site. The services are there, it's ready to go, the city owns it, there's no ownership issues," Randall Edge, president of the Glen Elm Retirement Community Residents Association, told The Morning Edition.
"When you look at Taylor Field, it's got fantastic access. It's very close in proximity to Lewvan Drive which is perfect for moving in manufactured homes."
In January, Glen Elm Properties, which owns the Glen Elm trailer park, served 14 residents with eviction notices saying their water and sewer lines were no longer viable and that residents would have their services shut off May 1.
A second group of residents, including Edge, were given until June 30 to leave the park.
Glen Elm Properties did not respond to requests for an interview.
Edge said some of the trailers weren't in any shape to be moved from the trailer court and even if they were, there's nowhere to take them.
"We're only allowed by zoning to be where we are."
Edge said the idea of rezoning Taylor Field for manufactured homes came after Regina city council voted last week to ask Ottawa and the province for money to redevelop the former Taylor Field site for residential housing.
The first phase would use money from the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) to build waste and stormwater infrastructure along with roads and green space.
Using the site at Taylor Field for housing, particularly affordable housing, has been discussed since the original Mosaic Stadium was demolished in 2017.
"Here we have this fantastic property, the old Taylor Field that's been sitting unused for 10 years designated for low-cost housing. Why don't we embrace manufactured homes?" Edge said.
In March, city council unanimously passed a motion to allow manufactured and mobile homes to be moved onto vacant residential lots in Regina.
Ward 6 city councillor Victoria Flores, who introduced the motion, said city administration is working on an expedited report and recommendations based on the motion to be ready in the fourth quarter of this year.
"The framework initiated by this motion is intended to assess the suitability of various sites, potentially including Taylor Field, for manufactured homes," Flores said.