Nanaimo is selling three lots to Habitat for Humanity for $1 to add to housing stock in a city facing a shortage of affordable homes.
The agreement was approved by city council this week. The properties are on a corner site at 897 Albert St. and 474 and 478 Pine St., in the Harewood area on the west side of Nanaimo.
Approval was granted despite opposition from the Friends of Cat Stream, which is concerned about a potential impact on an area deemed to be environmentally sensitive. The stream provides habitat for coho salmon and cutthroat and rainbow trout.
Jessie Chalmers, a board member and chairman of the building committee for Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island, said that a 15-metre riparian setback is planned, a figure based on the city's bylaw. Riparian refers to lands adjacent to the stream.
He expects the development will bring a positive impact to the stream as Habitat works with citizens to improve it.
Fisheries resources consultant Dave Clough, commissioned by Habitat, said in a letter that the development is “following the environmental regulations that contribute to the protection of Cat Stream.”
Habitat plans to follow recommendations in the consultant’s environmental report that said the planned setback will protect the stream, Chalmers said.
Clough recommends removing garbage, taking out invasive plants and replanting damaged riparian areas with native vegetation. “Cat Stream was significantly encroached and harmed by historic development, but there is always the opportunity to protect or restore,” he said.
Tim McGrath of the Harewood Neighbourhood Association told council that the neighbourhood supports the project.
City approval means designs can begin in earnest, with the goal of submitting an application to city hall in six months, Chalmers said.
“We want to get input from the community as well as work with local architects and professionals on the engineering side of things.”
The original plan was to build 10 townhouses, Chalmers said. “We are probably going to downsize that a little ... some of the public feedback that we received made us realize that we were probably over-utilizing the space that was there. We were lacking some yard space.”
The non-profit wants to ensure it builds homes that will support a family environment, Chalmers said.
Costs have not been finalized, but he expects they will be about $3 million. A fundraising campaign will be launched.
If all goes smoothly, construction would begin in early 2020, Chalmers said.
This project will add to the 20 units Habitat already has in place in Nanaimo.
The deal will give the non-profit housing organization a half-price break on development cost charges. As a result, the society will pay $67,000 for its share of the development cost charges. The city’s portion will come from Nanaimo’s housing legacy reserve fund.
Habitat builds affordable duplexes or townhomes for families who otherwise would not be able to own a home. Down payments are not always required. Mortgage payments are set so that they do not exceed 30 per cent of household income.
The society’s ReStore outlets sell new and used building supplies to provide revenue for the organization.
Habitat for Humanity’s Victoria branch is holding the grand opening of its third Greater Victoria store, at 50 Burnside Rd., on Oct. 27.
The mid-Island branch opened its first ReStore in Duncan this year at 251 Government St.
It is planning to expand its presence in Duncan. It bought a duplex lot in Duncan and has drawings of its proposal submitted at city hall, Chalmers said. It also owns another lot in Duncan and hopes to build a six-unit project there.
