MAPLETON – “Our plan is not to build an apartment building, but to build … a healthy, affordable and hope-filled community where everyone feels they belong.”
That’s what Mapleton council heard from Laurie Langdon of Love Your Neighbour Communities (LYNC) on Dec. 9.
Langdon is a pastor and realtor who has lived in Drayton for 17 years and chairs LYNC’s local advisory team.
At the meeting, Langdon said LYNC wants to “create beautiful spaces where intergenerational communities will thrive.”
Its mission, he added, is to “revitalize people and rural communities through equitable housing and social enterprise.”
The LYNC team, formed a couple years ago, is comprised of professionals (including councillor Marlene Ottens) wanting to strengthen the community through affordable rural housing, Langdon said.
And they’re looking for support from people wanting solutions to housing affordability, loneliness, social isolation and to food insecurity, he added.
Langdon displayed a rendering of a 24-unit apartment building he said is designed to be built on half an acre, parking included.
“That’s just an idea of what we’re looking to do here in Drayton,” he said.
A unit would be an ideal home for everyone from a young, single-parent family to seniors citizens, according to Langdon.
“We will create programs that actually bring people together,” he continued.
“Whether it be our community gardens … having meals in our community kitchen or having children stay in the childcare centre – the idea is to actually involve people in one another’s lives so that they can share together and support one another.”
In addition to supporting residents socially, Langdon said LYNC aims to “contribute to the downtown … so much that we’re leaving the main floor area to be developed into community spaces where social enterprise and other community groups can get involved.”
And the group builds energy efficient and carbon neutral housing, according to Langdon.
LYNC CEO Borris Emanuel said “LYNC is all about rural communities.
“We are about creating a … product that fits our rural community – not taking something from the city and bringing it to our rural communities.”
Before moving forward, Emanuel said it’s important to ensure LYNC has “the support to make it sustainable financially.”
The group is seeking federal funding, and has “strong support” from Edge Mutual Insurance Company, Emanuel said.
Mapleton council has offered guidance and instruction, according to Emanuel.
“They’ve been very, very supportive and provided a lot of information so that we can make some great decisions,” he said.
Councillor Michael Martin asked what motivated LYNC, a faith-based group, to focus on issues such as affordable housing, environmental responsibility and food security.
“What’s in it for you?” he asked. “What are you looking for from us?”
Emanuel said LYNC is “doing what God has called us to do – which is really to care for our neighbours.
“This is really a practical way of meeting the needs of our neighbours and demonstrating the love that we feel that we should be sharing with those around us. It is as simple as that.”
Emanuel added LYNC wants council’s support.
“LYNC has made it one of our conditions as part of our strategic plan that we don’t go into a community unless the township, the council, those that are involved in the political leadership of the community, [are] supportive of the project.
“And so that’s what we’re looking for first and foremost from the [township] is that you be supportive and that you actually see the need in your community and that you also desire to address this need,” Emanuel said.
Councillor Amanda Reid asked if the group had explored opportunities for land in Drayton.
Nothing has yet panned out, Emanuel said, though he added, “We are very active in that process.”
