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| There's a different look to the front of the old Raffle's building today |
The ongoing renovations at the old Raffles Hotel that will create the supportive housing complex Crane's Crossing reached another benchmark today, as construction crews, aided by an excavator removed the old elevator shaft that made for the midway point of the building.
The project on Tuesday morning requiring a stoppage of vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the area as part of the safety plan for the project.
Pacific Flagging's Emerald Spence provided some visual commemoration for the event, a shout out of Celebration relayed through Mayor Lee Brain's Social media page today.
As part of today's work, traffic was stopped at times and rerouted around the construction site, with Third Avenue West at Five Corners reduced to one lane of traffic travelling eastbound today
The much anticipated addition to housing opportunities in the community has seen a bit of a stalled renovation period in recent months, in May City council met to move forward a variance application requirement.
The building was purchased by the province of British Columbia in May of 2020 towards expansion os social housing in the community, once work is complete on the Supportive housing centre, it will have room for close to 48 units of supportive and transitional housing for residents.
So far there has been no revised timeline put forward to indicate when the facility will be open for applications for residents.
Crane's Crossing currently hosts the city'd homeless shelter and as we noted earlier this month, has also received funding for the provincial winter shelter program.
More notes on housing in the region can be explored here.
important to remember: councillors randhawa and cunningham voted against adopting the city's new OCP which allowed this development to proceed. if the rest of council/mayor had also voted down OCP, this project would be many months behind schedule
ReplyDeleteIn fairness to councillors Randhawa and Cunningham, the other council members did not disagree with the issues they raised. The others objected because of the time involved to hold a public hearing to consider amendments. The others prefer the council's discretion to allow variances from the OCP on a case by case basis. It reflects the council's overall weakness when it comes to public engagement.
ReplyDeleteummmm, no you seem to forget that they both voted against the OCP (only at final reading mind you, not the first 3 times) after the developer on park ave raised a stink. \
ReplyDeleteno fairness given to such pandering
$11.8 million to buy Raffles, plus an annual operating subsidy of $1.2 million paid to North Coast Transition Society. Remediation costs are unknown, municipal tax benefits will be minimal as it will surely be exempt.
ReplyDeleteWill this become a jewel in the social compassion crown of the NDP and the city?
Or will it be an overbudget and an underfunded eyesore, that will turn into a gateway to Hastings North?
Exciting things happen when your provincial government uses your tax dollars to buy old hotels!
Well that is an interesting take on what is at least a dent into the much needed stock of supportive and affordable housing.
DeleteTime will tell on any cost over runs or remediation costs, but it is part of the BC Go't' blue print from other communities towards providing housing for those most in need.
Compassion isn't necessarily a negative thing though, just saying.
Thanks for the feedback
NCR
Compassion is a two way street, government accountability is one form of compassion towards taxpayers.
DeleteUsing that amount of taxpayer dollars on an old hotel to rebuild 48 units is significant.
Even more so, when the project is already overdue and most likely over budget with no end date in sight.
As always, I appreciate the blog!