[James Bay] 310-338 Michigan Street | Affordable rentals | 4-storeys | Completed - built in 2024

Citified profile: https://victoria.cit...ichigan-street/

 

An artist's rendering of 310-338 Michigan Street, a two-building, four-storey redevelopment of James Bay's Michigan Square affordable housing complex. Water penetration issues affecing the lower levels of the existing buildings and an underground parking component have necessitated redevelopment of the Capital Region Housing Corporation-owned property. 

 

97-unit affordable rental project to replace aging CRD apartments in James Bay

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Given the fact that the City is contributing a cash grant to the project, is there any realistic chance that this *won't* be approved by council?  Don't get me wrong:  I'm (personally) not opposed to this project, but if it goes to a public hearing I wonder if anyone opposed to the project would be discouraged from speaking against it if they feel like it's a 'done deal'?  Perhaps it's a chicken and egg thing:  ideally, grants for affordable housing projects would only be awarded after council approval of the development to preserve impartiality at these public hearings, but presumably some proposals need these cash grants up front to make them viable enough to be presented to council in the first place ...

If rezoning was required, then I'd be more concerned. This one is just a DP with variance, so really the only thing being approved by Council is the look of the thing, not the land use. FWIW, the two variances requested are site coverage (45.2% proposed versus 40% permitted) and setbacks (5.78 m and 6.0 m proposed versus 7.5 m required). 

Edited by Jackerbie, 31 July 2019 - 12:19 PM.

If rezoning was required, then I'd be more concerned. This one is just a DP with variance, so really the only thing being approved by Council is the look of the thing, not the land use. FWIW, the two variances requested are site coverage (45.2% proposed versus 40% permitted) and setbacks (5.78 m and 6.0 m proposed versus 7.5 m required). 

The city also allocated a grant to 2558 Quadra Street, which *is* requesting a rezoning, so perhaps that project is a bigger issue than this one.

 

I assume that some neighbours could object to the design of 310/338 Michigan, but perhaps there will be chances for these concerns to be addressed via ADP (and back to CALUC if changes are substantial enough).

Work is getting underway:

Construction is underway on a new housing project that will replace three aging apartment buildings with 97 affordable rental homes for families, seniors and people with low to moderate incomes.

“With construction starting on Michigan Square, more families, seniors and individuals in Victoria will have access to quality homes with affordable monthly rents that will help them stay in our community,” said Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill. “We'll continue to work with our federal and community partners to build more affordable homes like these in Victoria and throughout British Columbia.”

The project is receiving $4.5 million through the Regional Housing First Program, an innovative partnership between the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC), the B.C. government and the Government of Canada.

The Province, through BC Housing, is providing approximately $11.7 million in low-cost financing through the HousingHub and another $4.6 million through Building BC: Community Housing Fund. The Province is also providing approximately $187,000 in annual operating funding.

The Capital Regional District is contributing $1.1 million through the Regional Housing Trust Fund and the City of Victoria is providing $620,000.

The CRHC will own and operate the new buildings. The CRHC is the largest social-housing provider in the Capital Region and provides homes to more than 3,500 tenants with 1,893 units in 50 buildings.

Located at 330-336 Michigan St., Michigan Square is replacing 53 units in three aging apartment buildings that were rendered uninhabitable by water damage. The buildings have been demolished and their residents have been relocated to other affordable housing in the community.

The redevelopment will see the demolished units replaced with two new four-storey apartment buildings. The buildings will have studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes:

24 units for people with very low incomes that will be rented at the provincial shelter rate;
22 units with rent geared to income, for which people with low to moderate incomes will pay 30% of their incomes; and
51 units for people with moderate incomes that will be rented at market rates.
The development will include a private courtyard with a playground and community garden, as well as an indoor gathering space and bike storage. When construction is complete, residents who lived in the now-demolished buildings will have the option to move into the new units. The heritage house and nine townhouses on the site will not be redeveloped, and their tenants and the rent they pay will not change.

Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2023, with residents moving in soon after.

This project is part of B.C.'s 10-year, $7-billion housing plan. Since 2017, the Province has funded nearly 34,000 new affordable homes that are complete or underway, including more than 2,400 homes in Greater Victoria.

Looks like Grace Lore will be able to add another message bubble somewhere on her "busy" social media platform.

Was by these buildings today.  The tree protection fences are being removed so moving in date must be soon.  Odd looking buildings.

Thanks, GRT. I'll have to check that out.

This is officially completed now.

Pictures or it hasn't happened.