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Put low-cost housing in Central Park, says Victoria mayor

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is proposing to build affordable housing in Central Park alongside a new Crystal Pool, instead of surface parking.
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One of the questions the councillors want answered is whether the city could use the parkland, at Quadra Street between Queens Avenue and Pembroke Street, for housing without holding a referendum.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is proposing to build affordable housing in Central Park alongside a new Crystal Pool, instead of surface parking.

Helps with councillors Marianne Alto and Margaret Lucas are recommending that city staff, working with community stakeholders, develop a request for proposals or expression of interest to build underground parking for 100 cars topped with up to six floors of affordable housing and community space, in place of surface parking in Central Park.

One of the questions the councillors want answered is whether the city could use the parkland, at Quadra Street between Queens Avenue and Pembroke Street, for housing without holding a referendum.

“I think the issue the community has is with a parking lot in the park. So if the proposed housing/child care/newcomers space can be very close to the same footprint as the parking lot would be anyway, then I think it would probably be preferable to have housing there than a parking lot,” Helps said in an interview.

The housing would not be built by the city, whose role would probably be limited to providing the land, Helps said.

“The city doesn’t build housing. There are lots of very capable non-profits who do build housing,” she said.

As part of the proposal, the three have included a letter of support from Malcolm McNaughton, B.C. Housing director regional development, saying B.C. Housing would be willing to partner with the city on the project to provide funding and financing.

The proposal suggests any ground floor community space would, at a minimum, be able to accommodate a welcome centre for newcomers to Canada, a child care facility, community kitchen and space for youth, seniors and other groups.

The 2016 census shows the area is “the fastest growing, largest immigrant population and lowest income area of the city. So more affordable child care and affordable housing just seems like a natural fit. Especially when that footprint would be for parking anyway,” Helps said

Given those demographics, she said the proposal makes sense.

“It’s quite amazing to imagine. Then we’ll have this beautiful community recreation centre/pool/wellness centre. So it will kind of become more of a complex.

“Then of course, Central Park is so large, it will be basically the backyard for the people who live in the housing.”

The proposal, which will be considered by councillors Thursday, also calls on staff to design and report back on a process for engaging community groups including North Park, Harris Green and downtown residents and Indigenous and immigrant communities about the community space. Staff is also being instructed to explore funding sources.

In their report to council, Helps and councillors note that city staff have already determined that incorporating social housing into the pool building would add significant time and cost.

But this proposal is different, they say.

“This proposed housing/community centre/childcare project would not be built, owned or operated by the city — an operator will be determined through the request for expressions of interest or proposals; the city’s contribution would be the land, potentially in the form of a long-term lease,” Helps says in her report.

Victoria council voted last year to replace the Crystal Pool complex, which was built in 1971. The cost estimate for replacement is $69.4 million.

Reserve funds will provide $10 million, and $6 million is expected from the federal Gas Tax Fund.

The city is hoping the federal and provincial governments will each fund 40 per cent of the project through grants, leaving it to cover 20 per cent.

If senior government funding comes through, the city will not have to hold a referendum for borrowing approval.

bcleverley@timescolonist.com