Mr. Duttenhoffer raises a significant point about the critical need for housing in Victoria in his letter, Housing a more pressing need than golf courses for Victoria. The city’s ongoing housing crisis affects real people – families, seniors, and young workers alike – many of whom are struggling to find affordable places to live. Addressing this issue is undeniably urgent, and we must all be willing to consider creative solutions, even if it means making difficult choices about how we use our land. Golf courses, as beautiful and historic as they may be, serve only a select few while thousands remain without adequate shelter. There is certainly merit in considering whether such vast green spaces can be repurposed for the greater good.
However, why stop there? We must go further and think on a grander scale. Beyond golf courses, we have entire swaths of land throughout Greater Victoria that could be better utilized. Take, for instance, Beacon Hill Park. This expansive park, which currently serves as a pleasant place for picnics and casual strolls, could be transformed into a thriving community of high-density housing developments.
And what of Butchart Gardens? These acres of meticulously tended flowers and pristine walkways are, frankly, a symbol of wasted opportunity. By converting this land into a modern housing complex, we could provide shelter for thousands more. Why should petunias take priority over people? Surely, the families currently struggling to find shelter in our overpriced market would appreciate the logic of exchanging flower beds for beds of another kind.
In fact, this plan could be extended well beyond Victoria. Consider every park, every nature reserve, every green space across our beautiful province. Each of these could be put to better use.
In all seriousness, while the notion of repurposing green spaces like golf courses and parks may seem extreme, it is reflective of the desperate measures needed in desperate times. The housing crisis is real, and it demands bold action. But perhaps we should aim for solutions that balance the need for more housing with the preservation of the very spaces that make our city livable. After all, there is no need to bulldoze everything green in pursuit of homes – just most of it.
J. Swift
Oak Bay
