Affordable housing residences once known as Moose Village in Cranberry are being moved to make way for the Life Cycle Housing Society’s expanded affordable housing complex at the site.
Nickel Bros structural moving company has been at the Cranberry location, jacking up the old residences and moving them onto trailers, to be barged to Salt Spring Island.
Life Cycle president Frances Ladret said the society desperately wanted to avoid demolishing the houses so a new home had to be found for them. She said the society advertised locally for someone to take them all and there were no responses.
“We spoke to Nickel Bros and they said they would more or less take them off of our hands,” said Ladret. “They said they are in the house moving business, not the house selling business, so what they tried to do is find people who will pay them to move the houses. It wasn’t looking all that promising for a while and then towards the end of the listing, they got in touch with us and said they had somebody who wanted all eight houses. That was pretty exciting for us.”
Ladret said Life Cycle has been told the houses are going to Salt Spring Island but she’s not sure of the purpose for the residences. She said Life Cycle does not get any money for the houses – they are just being taken off the society’s hands. She said full demolition of the houses would have been expensive, not to mention wasteful. Ladret said some misinformation got out into the community and people were genuinely upset about the prospect of the houses being demolished.
Residents have right of refusal
Temporary housing has been found for residents of the eight residences being removed and all have first right of refusal to move into the new complex.
Ladret said she believes the old houses have been serving local residents since the 1950s, so removal for the new 24-unit housing development is the end of an era.
Ladret said the removal and initiative to construct a new complex came about as a result of the housing crisis in Powell River.
“We were looking at how we could help with that affordable housing component,” said Ladret. “There was the realization that the property was somewhat underutilized with the houses on eight lots and a vacant lot in the middle. Then came this provincial program, the community housing fund, which was a pretty generous grant program, and an offer from BC Housing to take on the mortgage on our behalf. It all just came together as being the right thing to do.”
In terms of progress for the new facility, City of Powell River Council has approved rezoning for the properties in question. An effort is underway to amalgamate the Life Cycle property and a piece of crown land in Cranberry to make up the acre-sized lot that the new housing development will be built upon.
Ready to build
Ladret said the architecture has been done and Life Cycle is ready for the building to start. She said the contract for the project is a design-build concept, where the designers also take care of the construction of the new facility. It’s a much simpler process for an organization such as Life Cycle. The contractor is working to deal with local tradespeople, suppliers and builders, according to Ladret.
“The drawings are all done and the landscape plan is complete and now we just have to take it from paper to property,” said Ladret.
The new units in the development will include one-bedroom units, all the way to three-bedroom units. The three-bed units and some of the two-bedroom units are in townhouse configuration and the others are apartment style.
Ladret said if all goes according to schedule, construction on the year-long project could begin in July.
She said Life Cycle has this idea that the new complex can become a little community within the Cranberry community so there will be mixed age groups, family types and also two fully accessible suites.
The 24 units will be a significant expansion to Life Cycle’s rental inventory. With the existing facilities it maintains, the society will have 75 affordable housing units, according to Ladret.
“It’s growing,” said Ladret. “In some ways, we’re sorry we didn’t have more land and could do a larger development, because there is certainly a great need out there. There are fewer people who can find affordable housing in Powell River.
“It’s gratifying to be able to help out people in need. We certainly have many people looking. We have long wait lists for the facilities we operate. It’s particularly difficult for our administrator, who has to field calls every week from people who are quite desperate for housing.”
Board members pitch in
Ladret said in order to assist with Life Cycle projects, she has a board of eight people. She characterized it as a “working board” because with limited funds to hire staff, board members pitch in and help with administration of the society’s efforts. She said the society is interested in having more directors and spreading the load.
“It’s a good, hardworking board,” said Ladret. “This is really a board effort. They are involved in every step of the way.”
Former Life Cycle president Pat Christie said the society bought the former Moose Village in 2009. She said it was her recollection that former city councillor Myrna Leishman brought the offer to Life Cycle.
“She told us the Moose was considering selling and they wanted to sell to someone who would keep it as affordable housing,” said Christie. “The Moose was prepared to sell it for less than what they could get on the open market and we proceeded from there and bought the property. It was very generous of the Moose.”
She said the community needs affordable housing and she’s heartened to see the three local governments have done such a thorough job on a regional housing study.
“I’m hoping that there’s more affordable permanent rental that comes out of that,” said Christie.
