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Blatchford won’t be a green “ghetto.”

Mayor Don Iveson says while there will be affordable housing in the area – including supportive housing – it would be unfair to put it all in one neighbourhood.

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“That’s a ghetto approach, which doesn’t work,” Iveson said.

“But there’s also the opportunity to include affordable rental on Blatchford and overall to model what a mixed income community looks like that has people from all walks of life.”

When the Blatchford redevelopment is built, 20 per cent will be dedicated to affordable housing.

How much of that will be supportive social housing is still up for debate, said Coun. Bev Esslinger.

“Any of these homes — town homes, stacked homes, are already more affordable than single-family homes,” Esslinger said.

Iveson said the city won’t make as much money with that approach, but it’s about leading by example.

Meanwhile, the economic downturn comes at a good time, as the city has saved on remediation costs.