A north Nanaimo development with micro units may not be such an anomaly if building plans throughout the city come to fruition. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

building trend

Micro units gaining traction in Nanaimo as answer to housing crunch

Apr 14, 2021 | 5:39 AM

NANAIMO — A notable injection of cramped living quarters are planned in Nanaimo as escalating costs impact builders, buyers and renters.

Construction of 28 micro units at three sites in Nanaimo are in various stages of review by officials at City Hall, according to director of development approvals Jeremy Holm.

He said the ultra small units have been the source of increased recent demand from the development community.

“As housing costs increase and land values and construction costs increase there’s definitely some demand for these small units as one of the incentives that would help is the DCC (development cost charge) exemption.”

Holm said DCC exemptions in Nanaimo result in savings to developers of $3,000 per unit under 312 sq/ft, which he said is the maximum size the province considers to be a micro unit.

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He said a recent bump of interest in providing additional micro housing stock in Nanaimo is encouraging, noting the niche housing option fills a void and is backed by the City’s affordable housing strategy.

“It does fit an important component, although there are other portions of the housing continuum that are important as far as housing for families and broader aspects of the housing continuum.”

Holm noted the most recent data showed the rental vacancy rate in Nanaimo slipped to just one per cent in 2020, including less than one per cent for bachelor suites

The Painted Village on Doumont Rd. near Metral Dr. is believed to be home to Nanaimo’s first and largest concentration of micro units with 10 small apartments built in two phases since 2012.

All of the units are less than 290 sq/ft, well under the micro unit threshold.

NanaimoNewsNOW caught up with Leana who has called one of the tiny units home for nearly two years.

“It’s perfect being a student living by myself especially not being from Nanaimo. Moving from a different town you don’t really know anyone, you don’t want to live with a random roommate, its been good.”

While initially having concerns about living in a micro suite, Leana said it has been a good fit, citing affordable rent and easy maintenance as benefits.

“It’s not even 300 sq/ft, so it’s pretty tiny, but as long as you’re minimalistic you can make it work, for sure.”

All of the micro units at the development are assessed at about $135,000.

A re-zoning application around the corner at 5915 Metral Dr. proposes 10 micro units as part of a 28 unit complex.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes