Housing

Provincial government ministers Murray Rankin (from left), Lana Popham and Rob Fleming discussed the housing crisis at a town hall hosted by the District of Saanich in November. The event was closed to media, but informative suggestions made at the time are being shared with the public for use in future planning. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Fred Haynes)

Saanich community associations helping tackle housing crisis

Network, district look at ways to increase affordability, support housing diversity and more

 

The Canadian Real Estate Association reported that the national average home price hit $713,500 in December, up almost 18 per cent from the same month one year earlier. File photo

Canada’s housing ministers meet as MPs ready for more hearings on pace of price gains

Low mortgage rates and consumer demand for larger spaces outstripping supply

 

A rendering of Townline’s development at the southwest corner of Vancouver Street and Pandora Avenue in Victoria. (Photo courtesy of Townline)

Victoria’s first-ever co-living suites approved for Pandora and Vancouver development

16-storey building will include 54 co-living units; a new trend in lower-rent living

 

Two people admire the view from one of the fourth floor apartments at Maitland Street Village on Dec. 15. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

B.C.’s first Step 4 ‘low energy’ apartments open in Port Alberni

Alberni Low Energy Housing Society’s Maitland Street Village promises big utility savings

Two people admire the view from one of the fourth floor apartments at Maitland Street Village on Dec. 15. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The Threshold Housing Society currently supports about eight young people with post-secondary education. A $10,000-windfall from the Oak Bay Rotary Club has already helped four youth with tuition and supplies such as this laptop. (Courtesy Threshold Housing)

Oak Bay service club funds futures for at-risk Greater Victoria youth

Rotary $10,000 donation to Threshold Housing Society pays for tuition, technology

The Threshold Housing Society currently supports about eight young people with post-secondary education. A $10,000-windfall from the Oak Bay Rotary Club has already helped four youth with tuition and supplies such as this laptop. (Courtesy Threshold Housing)
Former North Saanich mayor Alice Finall says supporters of new housing in North Saanich, not opponents like herself, represent a small vocal minority. (Black Press Media file photo)

North Saanich council’s decision to defer key OCP decisions praised by former mayor

Alice Finall also denies link between strategic density and higher affordability

Former North Saanich mayor Alice Finall says supporters of new housing in North Saanich, not opponents like herself, represent a small vocal minority. (Black Press Media file photo)
The City of Victoria needs to add about 1,000 net homes a year, ranging in housing type and affordability, to meet its housing creation targets. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria met some key housing targets, missed others in 2020

City gets passing grade on affordable homes, falls well short on permitting missing middle homes

The City of Victoria needs to add about 1,000 net homes a year, ranging in housing type and affordability, to meet its housing creation targets. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rendering of the three-storey proposal for 713 St. Patrick St. in Oak Bay. Council approved first three readings of a housing agreement ahead of looking at the development. (Novus Properties report)

Housing agreement cements rental status for proposed Oak Bay development

Units will remain rental with no age restrictions and no vacation rentals allowed

Rendering of the three-storey proposal for 713 St. Patrick St. in Oak Bay. Council approved first three readings of a housing agreement ahead of looking at the development. (Novus Properties report)
David Lau, former executive director of Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, stands in front of the Monterey Avenue welcome house in 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria refugee association ends Welcome House program in Oak Bay

Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society cuts funding, says homes served their purpose

David Lau, former executive director of Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, stands in front of the Monterey Avenue welcome house in 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rendering shows a portion of a proposed townhome development for Drummond Way in Colwood. A public hearing for this and one other development proposal will be held Wednesday (Dec. 1) starting at 6 p.m. (Courtesy City of Colwood)

Public hearings Wednesday night for pair of Colwood developments

Proposals include a five-storey, 57-unit apartment building, and a 43-townhome subdivision

Rendering shows a portion of a proposed townhome development for Drummond Way in Colwood. A public hearing for this and one other development proposal will be held Wednesday (Dec. 1) starting at 6 p.m. (Courtesy City of Colwood)
Adam Benning, owner-operator of Westcoast Container Homes, relaxes inside one the company’s OfficePods recently on display in the parking lot of Sidney’s Monk Office. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney gets glimpse of out-of-the-box office and housing solutions

Local container home company cuts shipping containers into auxiliary pods for other uses

Adam Benning, owner-operator of Westcoast Container Homes, relaxes inside one the company’s OfficePods recently on display in the parking lot of Sidney’s Monk Office. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
(Black Press file photo)

Zero rental vacancies has Ladysmith working to prohibit renovictions

Draft bylaw would force landlords to provide 13-month payout, or alternate accommodations

(Black Press file photo)
A new residence with 45 housing units will be built at 865 Catherine St., and run by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society. (Google Maps)

$11.3M boost to create Victoria homes for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness

Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness housing to offer 24/7 culturally-appropriate supports

A new residence with 45 housing units will be built at 865 Catherine St., and run by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society. (Google Maps)
Langford developers have contributed to the city’s affordable housing fund with every rezoning request over the last five years. (Black Press Media file photo)

Langford promising select new homeowners up to 75% of their down payment

The city has earmarked $3 million in grants to help 250 families buy homes

Langford developers have contributed to the city’s affordable housing fund with every rezoning request over the last five years. (Black Press Media file photo)
The downtown Vancouver skyline is seen at sunset, as houses line a hillside in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Home sales across Metro Vancouver remained well above the 10-year average in September, but the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says prices haven’t climbed as sharply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Home demand still outstrips supply in Metro Vancouver but price hikes slow: report

Composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver just under $1.2 million

The downtown Vancouver skyline is seen at sunset, as houses line a hillside in Burnaby, B.C., on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Home sales across Metro Vancouver remained well above the 10-year average in September, but the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says prices haven’t climbed as sharply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Local real estate expert Leo Spalteholz analyzes the various parties’ election platforms around housing. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria housing analyst says solutions lay with province, local governments, not feds

Leo Spalteholz breaks down the major parties’ housing platforms in the 2021 election

Local real estate expert Leo Spalteholz analyzes the various parties’ election platforms around housing. (Black Press Media file photo)
While the value of building permits dropped almost four per cent for a total of $9.9 billion Canada as a whole, the value of permits in Victoria Census Metropolitian Area (CMA) rose by almost 27 per cent to some $202 million. (Black Press Media file photo)

Value of building permits skyrockets in Greater Victoria

Greater Victoria building permit values rise 27% while Canada as a whole sees a 4% decline

While the value of building permits dropped almost four per cent for a total of $9.9 billion Canada as a whole, the value of permits in Victoria Census Metropolitian Area (CMA) rose by almost 27 per cent to some $202 million. (Black Press Media file photo)
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau makes a campaign stop in Hamilton, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Real estate industry worried Liberal housing plan won’t alleviate supply issues

‘It’s like saying, ‘come on in my store it’s 100 per cent off, but I don’t have any inventory’

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau makes a campaign stop in Hamilton, Ont., on Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Victorians can run the City’s 25 km border loop or cycle an alternate route of equal length this September as part of the Do The Loop fundraiser for the Threshold Housing Society. (Courtesy of Matt Dell/South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association)

Do The Loop cycle-or-run fundraiser in Victoria supports at-risk youth

Signing up to do a 25K or 2.5K loop gives boost to Threshold Housing Society programs

  • Aug 23, 2021
Victorians can run the City’s 25 km border loop or cycle an alternate route of equal length this September as part of the Do The Loop fundraiser for the Threshold Housing Society. (Courtesy of Matt Dell/South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association)
Dozens of trees on a corner lot at Obed Avenue and Harriet Road are slated for removal to make way for a four-storey, 26-unit development. The developer is providing funding to replace boulevard trees removed, as well as for the planting of trees elsewhere in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tree issue resolved for Saanich development proposal on Obed Avenue

Developer also agrees to make $52,000 contribution to Saanich Parks

Dozens of trees on a corner lot at Obed Avenue and Harriet Road are slated for removal to make way for a four-storey, 26-unit development. The developer is providing funding to replace boulevard trees removed, as well as for the planting of trees elsewhere in the municipality. (Black Press Media file photo)