Both supportive and affordable housing are planned as part of a new complex at 250 Terminal Ave., replacing existing temporary housing. (Ron Hart Architecture)

By Alex Rawnsley

wraparound services

Supportive & affordable housing complex poised to replace temporary 250 Terminal housing

Jun 18, 2024 | 2:06 PM

NANAIMO — Rezoning Terminal Ave. properties to allow for a multi-building housing complex is proceeding with some amendments called for by nearby residents.

The proposed complex will feature a five-storey, 50-unit supportive housing complex constructed to the south of the property, bordering Bryden St., while a five-storey, 34-unit affordable housing building will be located to the north along Mount Benson St.

Both facilities would be run by BC Housing, with residents of the supportive housing component selected through participation in their other programs.

The development would replace the current Newcastle Place temporary housing complex, which nearby residents have long argued brought considerable challenges and social disorder to the surrounding neighbourhood.

While overall supportive of the proposal, representatives from the Newcastle Community Association took exception to some terms in the bylaw and allowable use under the zoning, which they said could be used in the future to bring undesired services to the complex.

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The inclusion of a possible “social service resource centre” raised concerns about non-residents accessing the area.

“It’s a permitted use under the zoning and although BC Housing has given us assurances that the supportive housing building isn’t intended for that purpose, we have not seen the design for the affordable housing and should that permitted use be allowed then that would affect how the affordable housing was built and used.”

The proposed lot plan featuring two five-storey buildings with a variety of services available. (Ron Hart Architecture)

A request to better define the ground floor use of the supportive housing building, to ensure its services were only available to residents, was one of three requests made by the Association and echoed by others during a meeting on Monday, June 18.

They also requested a minimum fence height of 2.75 metres to ensure neighbour privacy and a maximum building height of 14 metres to better align with existing neighbourhood limits.

Representatives from BC Housing and Council agreed with a more specifically designed ground floor use, as well as the fence height, but made no change to allowable building height as they unanimously supported re-zoning.

Another, more informal request, aimed at limiting the number of residents to 30 in a bid to provide more personalized support services was also turned down.

BC Housing confirmed no walk-in services would occur on the property and all available wrap-around supports and services would be for residents of the supportive housing complex.

The facility would align closely with a recently opened site on Prideaux St.

What you’ve done on Prideaux is amazing,” Coun. Janice Perino told BC Housing reps. “I can tolerate the 50 [residents], as long as we…make sure the neighbourhood is protected as much as possible but also to have the wraparound services for the residents who live there.”

Looking at the property from Bryden St., towards Terminal Ave. to the left, the five-storey structures would provide a range of supports and services for residents only under amended zoning. (Ron Hart Architecture)

Coun. Erin Hemmens said the Newcastle Community Association requests were more than fair, given the difficulties which have persisted in the area for years.

“There’s no question your neighbourhood has taken the brunt of some very difficult housing choices that needed to be made in the community.”

Coun. Paul Manly said additional housing options, including for those looking to escape the grips and cycle of homelessness, are badly needed in the community.

“This is part of that solution and I think the plan BC Housing has with their HEART program to help stabilize people before they come into these units is going to be beneficial to ensuring that you don’t have the same kind of impact you had when the initial temporary housing happened at 250 Terminal.”

Final adoption of the re-zoning will occur at a future Council meeting, while development and building permits are still required before work proceeds.

New residents are beginning to occupy the current spaces at 250 Terminal Ave., after many of the existing people moved into the Prideaux St. facility.

A second phase of construction would build an affordable housing complex facing Mount Benson St. (Ron Hart Architecture)

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