The expansive project to redevelop a key space of land in the Harewood neighbourhood is now more firmly set in stone. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Te'tuxwtun

Affordable housing project in Harewood neighbourhood coming into focus

Jul 21, 2020 | 5:40 AM

NANAIMO — Timelines are now in place for the substantial redevelopment of a key corner in Nanaimo’s Harewood neighbourhood.

Construction is slated to begin in 2023 at the corner of Fifth St. and Howard Ave. for the affordable housing, education and recreation project known as Te’Tuxwtun.

The timeline was unveiled by the province on Monday, July 13 as part of a massive housing announcement and later clarified by the City of Nanaimo in a report on Monday, July 20.

The City staff report showed a lead consultant and community engagement consultant were hired.

They’ll work on land feasibility studies and public engagement sessions starting in the fall of 2020.

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It’s hoped the land will be rezoned by the City in the summer of 2022, with construction slated to begin in 2023 or 2024.

The project would provide approximately 40 affordable housing units, as well as a new location for the valuable Learning Alternatives program.

A Memorandum of Understanding about the Te’Tuxwtun project was updated in December, 2019 to include Snuneymuxw First Nation.

The plan to redevelop the area was first discussed several years before when BC Housing purchased the neighbouring housing complex known as King Arthur Court.

The notorious nuisance property was purchased by the province in 2017 and handed to the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre to run. This was under the promise of eventually tearing the buildings down and rebuilding them.

The province is now being sued in a class action lawsuit by residents of the complex over poor living conditions which continued after BC Housing bought the property.

A tour of the site in June showed rampant bug infestations and dilapidated townhouses which seemed ready to crumble.

The City of Nanaimo staff report references BC Housing and the Aboriginal Housing Management Association working with existing tenants “to help find new affordable rental homes, ensuring no one is left without a place to live prior to demolition of the aging townhomes.”

The entire project is subject to rezoning by the City of Nanaimo.

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