By David F. Rooney
The Revelstoke Community Housing Society is eagerly anticipating the official response to its $2.7 million proposal to build 12 one- and two-bedroom row house-style condo units at Bridge Creek Properties.
“We are extremely optimistic,” says society Chairman Mark McKee, adding that the project has been short-listed for approval by the Affordable Rental Housing Initiative (ARHI) established by the Columbia Basin Trust and BC Housing.
The society, which holds its annual general meeting today (Monday, March 11), applied for a $2 million grant for the project it would like to start this year.
The society has already built a duplex on Oscar Street. Each of those units had three bedrooms and rent for $1,100 each. It has also partnered with Habitat for Humanity to renovate the Hunt family’s home to assist Pauline Hunt, who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and McKee hopes there will be additional joint-projects with Habitat for Humanity in the future.
In the meantime this 12-unity townhouse-style project promises to fill a major need: quality affordable housing.
“We’re trying to bring the rent on these units to less than $600 for a one-bedroom and a little under $700 for a two-bedroom uni9t,” McKee said.
“These are for regular people living in our community. This is going to have a significant impact on housing in Revelstoke.”
There will be a process that will include a means test for prospective tenants.
“I firmly believe Revelstoke is going to have a housing shortage for the foreseeable future,” he said. “We want long-term, stable tenants who need affordable housing. Not everybody will qualify but this is meant to help those really need it.”
