By Andrea Klassen – Kamloops This Week
A Kamloops city councillor says plans to build more temporary modular in B.C. should bring short-term relief to the city.
Coun. Donovan Cavers told KTW city staff are looking at where a modular build could be placed in the city, in hopes of securing some of the 2,000 units promised by the provincial government.
“Basically, they just need local governments to have flat, serviced lands,” Cavers said. “And they’re hoping to roll them out within the next few months.”
While traditional affordable housing projects often take years to build and open, modular units laid on a temporary foundation can open within a year.
READ MORE: Affordable housing project hits snag
A 40-unit project in Vancouver was designed and built within six months for $3 million. The province has pledged to spend $291 million on modular units in the next two years.
Cavers said existing properties the city has designated for affordable housing likely aren’t right for a modular build because of terrain challenges, but noted the city has other options it can consider.
“A lot of the Lower Mainland municipalities are actually going to have a tougher time coming up with lands to host them on, but we have a much easier time doing that. So we’re very hopeful we’ll get some kind of immediate relief,” he said.
In a speech at this week’s Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver, Premier John Horgan promised 600 units to Vancouver, where civic leaders have said they hope to open that many units before winter. Surrey and Smithers will also get some of the units.
The province hopes to have about 1,000 units up and running by early 2018. Units will have individual bathrooms and kitchens, as well as shared laundry and programming spaces.
Cavers said a meeting with Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson was productive, as were meetings with the ministers of public safety and mental health and addictions and a meeting with Attorney General David Eby on the fate of the city-owned former Stuart Wood elementary property.
“I think part of it is the new government,” Cavers said of the NDP administration. “They’re on high alert and really engaged. I think the ministers really have a genuine interest in working with local government — and that’s a significant difference.”