North Cowichan council is moving forward on the municipally-sponsored affordable housing project at 9800 Willow Street by endorsing a revised concept plan for the project.
The revised plan will feature more green and communal space, more light and better layouts. With the new designs, the Willow Street site will include between 21 and 24 apartment units.
The updated design for Willow Street and 3191 Sherman Rd. in Duncan can be viewed at www.northcowichan.ca/affordablehousing.
“Council is excited about the revised concept plans for these two projects, and is thrilled to see them moving forward,” noted North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure. “These projects will provide a local example of how innovative design can be used to build attractive, livable and affordable urban housing.”
Council has been working towards these projects for quite some time. In 2015, council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Community Land Trust Foundation of B.C. to explore affordable housing opportunities on municipal property.
In 2016, council rezoned the Sherman Road and Willow Street sites to facilitate affordable housing projects. At the time of rezoning, preliminary concept plans were more conventional in style and would have accommodated around 64 units on Sherman Road and 18 units on Willow Street.
In March 2018, CLTFBC provided updated concept plans to council and received endorsement.