A 10-storey student housing complex is moving ahead at the Nanaimo VIU campus. The building will eventually house 266 students. (Government of B.C.)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

much needed space

Ten-storey student housing complex approved by Nanaimo Council

Feb 27, 2024 | 9:56 AM

NANAIMO — Development can proceed on an expansive student housing complex at Vancouver Island University.

City Councillors unanimously awarded a development permit for a 10-storey student housing facility at the Nanaimo campus, during their Monday, Feb. 28 meeting.

Funded almost entirely by the provincial government, the roughly $88 million complex would host 266 student beds as well as support services, amenity spaces and food options.

Councillors were asked to approve not only the permit but also a substantial height variance on the building.

Zoning for the property presently allows construction up to 14 metres tall, however current plans for the building have it topping out around 33 metres.

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City director of development approvals Jeremy Holm noted the property falls inside a secondary urban centre which supports larger building heights.

A minor variance to a retaining wall was also sought.

Holm was asked by coun. Paul Manly whether pending provincial legislation on housing projects, which aims to speed up the approval process, would mean projects like this located in a transit hub would even come to Council at all.

He said while Council would still be required to green-light the project, what they could object to would be limited.

“If a rezoning application were received for land within a transit-oriented area through the provincial legislation, Council would not be able to turn down that application strictly based on the densities…and height allowable by the province.”

Holm called the project a “significant addition to student housing on the university campus”, which is hoped to relieve some pressure on rental housing taken up by university students.

At a September 2022 event on campus, VIU president Deborah Saucier said the project would help students in a significant way.

“We have a 300-person wait list right now, so this will clear a backlog. But importantly for every student who doesn’t get into space here on campus, there’s one rental unit out there in the community, so it’s almost double the effect.”

VIU presently has around 530 student bed spaces available for students.

During the 2022-23 fiscal year, VIU enrolled 9,050 students at its Nanaimo campus.

A building permit is still required before construction can begin.

Original project timelines has crews on site beginning spring 2023, with a fall 2025 completion.

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