By Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo Council asks province for extension on $7M housing offer

Mar 6, 2018 | 5:07 PM

NANAIMO — After concerns about a tight and unmanageable timeline, Nanaimo City Council has asked the provincial government for an extension on the offer of $7 million for supportive housing.

The letter from the mayor’s office, sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said the “timeframe afforded by the Provincial program for our community to identify an approved site to accommodate the proposed modular housing, is just not achievable.”

The project, a $7 million, 44-unit supportive housing complex planned for Cranberry Ave. in Chase River, was controversial for many reasons. Members of the community had their voice heard over the location near a school, the lack of available services in the area and a lack of clarity over who would stay in the housing complex.

During an open house, held after the project was announced for the site on Cranberry Ave., both councillors and City staff had very different answers for an incensed community.

Council ultimately voted to reject the location and explore other potential options.

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“The City believes that consultation with the community is key to the success of this program and we are committed to moving forward as quickly as possible to engage with our residents regarding an alternative location,” the letter read.

City staff said only the Cranberry Ave. location fit the strict criteria for the project, which was designed to provide quick solutions to the ongoing homelessness problem.

The letter to Minister Selina Robinson said Council would assist the project anyway they can, such as expediting approvals to purchase land at a more suitable location.

It’s the latest development in an ongoing saga at City Hall.

Recently, Council received a petition nearing 500 signatures asking them to reconsider the Chase River location.

Petition organizer Laura McLeod told NanaimoNewsNOW she and others in the community felt rejecting the site was a missed opportunity.

“We had a $7 million investment promised by the government for the care that would support the individuals in this housing. I just really felt it was extremely unfortunate City Council didn’t move forward in a brave way.”

McLeod said she was struck by how many supportive comments the petition received after so much criticism in the public eye.

“They really did feel passionately that the City of Nanaimo and City Council need to have political courage to solve the housing issues in Nanaimo and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

During Monday night’s Council meeting, mayor Bill McKay said the City has not been able to secure a commitment from the Ministry that they are still prepared to move forward.

“We simply ask that the Ministry work with us and our citizens to ensure people in our community can be helped by this very necessary housing,” McKay said.

A response from BC Housing said they’ve engaged with “ongoing discussions” about the project in Nanaimo, including talk about site requirements and timelines. However, they said an alternate site hasn’t been provided.

“Given the significant need and the government’s commitment to delivering 2,000 modular housing units within the first two years, funding may have to be allocated to another interested community in need if Nanaimo is unable to find a site,” BC Housing said. 

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit