Re: 鈥淗ousing affordability eroding; Saanich to boost building costs,鈥� Jan.聽29.
Saanich council鈥檚 plan to consider increasing development cost charges and requiring step-code levels for new construction will take the affordability out of affordable housing.
Mount Douglas Senior Housing Society is nearing completion on a much-needed 84-unit seniors鈥� affordable housing project on Arrow Road being constructed to Built Green Gold standards and with monthly rental rates between $600 and $850, including utilities.
The development cost charges paid to Saanich for this project were $160,608. The suggested charges applicable under the rate in the article would be $640,416, an increase of $479,808. Requiring step-code adherence would increase construction costs of this project in the range of $20,000 per unit or $1.68 million. In total, the additional costs for a project like this would be $2.16 million.
The direct impact on rental rates would be an increase of $131.80 per month 鈥� out of reach for many of the seniors we are trying to accommodate. Council should consider following Built Green Gold standards, which are affordable and equivalent to step code 3 and meet higher environmental standards.
Let鈥檚 not lose sight of what we鈥檙e trying to accomplish. For its part, Saanich should concentrate on stimulating the supply side of the equation: faster approvals, higher density and affordable municipal costs. Organizations such as ours, which have been providing land and building affordable housing in the region for decades, are trying to do our part, but decisions like these might make it impossible in the future.
Peter Daniel
Asset manager
Anglican Diocese of sa国际传媒
