In regards to the entry in the recent list of Saanich News' most-read stories online: 'I was wrong': Saanich councillor apologizes for staff criticism.' Coun. Nathalie Chambers correctly apologized to staff for shaming them.
Accomplished architect Carl Elefante said, "The greenest building… is the one that is already built."
What does that have to do with Coun. Chambers' apology? She targeted the wrong folks for her very legitimate frustration.
The "pave-over-or-build-on-anything-that-doesn't-move" crowd is firmly in Saanich's driver's seat. Chambers has been fundamentally alone in her consistent and principled advocacy for habitat preservation, and actually affordable housing (30% of income is the standard in some world jurisdictions).
See the following for the vision to get there: The website https://carlelefante.com/insights/the-greenest-building-is/; "New Tricks With Old Bricks" plan from Britain (http://www.no-use-empty.org/files/New_Tricks_with_Old_Bricks.pdf); and "Red Vienna" affordable housing plan from Austria (https://www.wien.info/en/art-culture/red-vienna/100-years-of-red-vienna-337622)
Larry Wartels
Saanich
