Ground has been broken for the new 40-unit apartment complex between Alberta and Franklin avenues in central Westview, in preparation for the pouring of concrete for its foundation.
Crowne Pacific Development Corporation president Brett Giese said his construction company has secured a building permit with City of Powell River, so work has begun on the new rental facility.
“We’re on track,” said Giese. “Snow is obviously not great for moving forward with concrete, but by the end of this week, we’ll be pouring concrete for sure. Building the apartment complex in that location will be a transitioning point for the community.”
Of the 40 apartments, 15 per cent will be of the affordable housing variety. The complex will have a mix of two-bedroom, one-bedroom and bachelor apartments. Giese said the two-bedroom apartments will be facing the west, with views of the Salish Sea, while the smaller apartments will be on the east side.
The project, named Evo, will be five storeys in height and have a single level of concrete structure below for parking and amenity space. The upper five stories will be wood frame, with the bottom level made of concrete. Construction is estimated to take 12 to 14 months.
Giese’s company has been extensively involved in providing rental housing in Powell River, having just completed the Uptown project on Joyce Avenue adjacent to the Coastal Breeze complex and near qathet General Hospital. Giese said the first building with 46 units welcomed residents on August 1, 2024. The larger second building that has the gymnasium and all the amenities opened on February 1.
Giese said that Veyron Properties, the company responsible for management of the apartment complexes, which will own and operate the complexes, has set up its regional office in the Uptown facility.
“We’re in the process of filling up the facility and welcoming renters,” said Giese. “We now have a permanent location for Veyron to be, for people to come and talk about what we have available at our properties.”
Giese said crews from the Uptown project will be migrating to the Evo facility.
“They’ve just wrapped up over there, so they can shift right over,” said Giese.
Having committed to building more than 180 units in Powell River, Giese said he will continue to monitor availability of land and demand for rental accommodation. When asked if he would consider building more property in town, Giese said he is always looking for opportunities.
“I thought the city was onto something interesting, and I haven’t heard much about it lately, but I know they brought in a consultant, and they were contemplating using some of the underutilized properties around the community,” said Giese. “I believe one of them was the old sewage treatment plant in Westview, which would be a great feather in the cap for the city, and for whomever, if they open it up for proposals. It’s a great location and would be a great repurposed use of a current eyesore.”
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