A statement issued today by the City of Prince Rupert, has helped to explain further towards a pair of items placed on the provincial BC Bid websites, which call for expressions of interest towards a pair of lots in the downtown area towards development for Non Market housing.
As we outlined on Tuesday, the BC Bid call for Expressions of Interest was placed on the provincial website on Monday, identifying the lot across from Northern Savings Credit Union and the lot that currently is the host of the debris from the Belmont Hotel as the two locations of note.
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| Seniors Non Market Housing is proposed for the Third Avenue and McBride lot |
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| Non market housing is proposed for the 700 Block of Third Avenue West |
The Housing initiative is noted by the city as part of their Interim Housing Strategy, and designed to act swiftly on available funding opportunities and create the right conditions for housing development.
Today's statement from the City, provides for the first public comment on the topic and outlines the string of elements that will have to follow before we may see any construction take place.
Included on that list, the realization that they are fully funding dependent and will only be able to move forward if selected as part of the Federal Rapid Housing Initiative.
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The statement also noted of their ongoing work with BC Housing to proceed as efficiently as possible with their current housing development in the Kootenay area.
The stalled housing plans there was a topic we explored last week, with a look at the state of the projects in that area as BC Housing viewed it.
The themes from today's statements didn't make it into the dialogue of Thursday's Committee of the Whole session which saw the council members hear first hand of the challenges at the moment for housing in the community.
That as housing advocates Paul Lagace and Arnold Nagy as well as a delegation from the Harbourview Apartments provided some insight to the issue of renovictions and the turmoil of the moment for renters in Prince Rupert.
And while today's statement is very much forward thinking as they would say, sharing some of the potential themes on Monday may have helped to provide some optimism towards a few solutions to the many housing challenges for those speaking to Council and the larger community.
The City's statement also notes that more information on the city's Housing strategy is available for review here.
You can review the BC Bid Package from the BC Bid website here.
The two housing related items have ID numbers of 157102 and 157103.
More notes on Housing in the Prince Rupert area can be explored here.
Well. it didn't take long for the City to blow a hole in the Rupert 2030 Vision.
ReplyDeleteIt was a little more than 3 years ago when the former mayor gave a presentation at the Lester Centre and outlined a new city blueprint with distinct areas. The midtown district, full of empty lots where Elizabeth Apts, the Inlander, and the Epicurean once stood, was earmarked for high density housing.
I'm pleased to see the Belmont location identified as a suitable building location but the development for the corner of 3rd Ave and McBride contradicts this 3 year old plan for the area. The Rupert 2030 plan says,
"Previously vacant lots at the corner of 3rd Avenue and
McBride have been redeveloped into new office, mixed-use, and retail space."
I'm very much in support of new housing developments but can we try and stick this incredible, well though out Redesign Rupert plan that undoubtedly cost thousands of dollars and took many months to create? If there was a lack of building lots in the Midtown District it would be understandable but that area of town, in particular, is full of large vacant lots suitable for housing.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56953d59d82d5e4a6a3ee499/t/5df80aba6eabde6fa227a53d/1576536893173/191206_PRU_VisionReport_web.pdf
What a silly comment. You know that it’s possible to build housing on top of offices and retail right? It’s called mixed use.
DeleteEither of these projects going forward would be awesome for Prince Rupert.
Silly? I dont think so.
DeleteOf course I know it's possible. Did I miss where it said anything other than non-market seniors housing?
Midtown listed just that.."a mixed-use, lower-scaled
residential area of mostly ground-oriented, multiple housing as well as apartments over local-serving retail and services outlets"
Upper downtown had no mention of housing, in particular non -market seniors housing, other than this.." a new corporate office for port terminal
businesses along with executive and short-term employee housing."
Is this area commercial or residential? There's a better area for seniors housing.