The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) issued a housing strategy report this week, showing its support for the province’s goal of constructing 114-thousand new units over the next decade.
It focuses on diversifying housing supply by accelerating the construction of rental housing and other alternatives to reduce homelessness and housing affordability.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re in Prince George or Creston or Metro Vancouver, the lack of rental housing and homelessness is affecting each one of us in this province and we did try and take a look at a comprehensive approach for British Columbia,” says Greg Moore, chair of UBCM Housing Committee.
For the past 30 years, too much focus was put on home ownership and not enough attention was given to diversified housing.
“There needs to a better working relationship with each one of our local governments to ensure that the right housing stock is being built because what’s going to work in Prince George could be a lot different than what is needed for Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland.”
“What we have seen with increased homeownership costs whether it’s from single-family housing to multi-family not being available and we have not seen a lot of diversified housing stock getting built around this province.”
Prince George’s 151-unit condominium and parkade development project was brought up as a shining example of what the province needs more and why more millennials have been unable to find the right housing fit.
“If someone wanted to downsize from their single-family home into a different type within the community or something a bit more walkable downtown, those products weren’t really available and so, therefore, for the younger population couldn’t nevermind afford but there wasn’t the product available for them to move into,” added Moore.
The new development would be built in four phases between City Hall and Queensway Boulevard, north of Connaught Hill.