City of Nanaimo loses their chance for $7 million supportive housing project in Chase River
NANAIMO — The province pulled their offer of $7 million for a supportive housing project in Chase River, NanaimoNewsNOW has learned.
A response from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on Thursday said given the significant need for housing and several other interested communities “We will be reallocating this funding to support housing in another community that has identified a site and is ready to partner with us at this time.”
The proposed location in Nanaimo for the provincially-funded project was on Cranberry Ave. in Chase River, which drew the ire of the community for being beside an elementary school and Boys and Girls club.
The location was actually first turned down by Nanaimo Council on Feb. 19 after a barrage of concerns about the site. At the time, Council said they would work with BC Housing and the Ministry to find an alternative site. Earlier this week, mayor Bill McKay sent Minister Selina Robinson a formal letter asking for more time to find a suitable spot.