Duncan-based Parhar Group is partnering with the non-profit Clements Centre for Families in an effort to build a four-storey, 21-unit apartment building in North Cowichan that will cater to adults with disabilities.
A delegation from the Clements Centre, which provides services for people with disabilities, and the Parhar Group, a family-run firm that specializes in residential and commercial construction management, appeared before North Cowichan council at its meeting on July 17.
They asked council for early consideration for rezoning for the project, which is planned to be constructed at 2731 Vian St., located close to the Cowichan Community Centre, so they could gauge council’s support based on the information provided so far.
A staff report by North Cowichan development planner Sarah Foulkes-Watson said the assumption is that success in terms of the applicant receiving government grants to construct the project will likely be enhanced by council supporting the zoning for it.
Foulkes-Watson said the intent of the project is to have 30 per cent of the 21 one-bedroom units rented at market rates, 50 per cent would be rented based on the tenants’ income, and 20 per cent would be deep-subsidy units.
“The rent-geared-to-income and deep-subsidy units will be occupied by adults with developmental disabilities who live independently in the community and are currently supported by the Clements Centre for Families,” she said.
“This application is largely compliant with policies in [North Cowichan’s] official community plan and addresses the critical need for housing for community members with disabilities. It also contributes to the supply of one-bedroom units, which are identified as deficient in the 2021 Regional Housing Needs Assessment.”
The Parhar Group’s Rena Parhar said the intention is to seek funding for the project through BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund, which is a $3.3-billion program started by the province in 2018 to develop affordable rental housing for families, independent seniors and individuals with low or moderate incomes.
Dominic Rockall, CEO of the Clements Centre, said the centre’s interest in being part of the project stems from the fact that many people the centre supports have been priced out of the rental market.
“For the first time in the history of our agency, we are supporting people who are homeless, so affordable housing has leaped to the top of our priority list,” he said.
Coun. Chris Istace said the project ticks all the boxes of North Cowichan’s official community plan.
“This supports social endeavours, non-profits and truly affordable housing and meets our targeted growth-centre densities,” he said.
“It’s also wise development with regards to walkability and active transportation connections.”
Coun. Bruce Findlay said the project is one of those developments he really loves because it’s the development community coming together with a non-profit to build affordable housing that’s much needed in the community.
“We talk about affordable housing being government driven but, in this case, it’s development driven with government help,” he said.
“It’s obviously more and more difficult for the development community to build truly affordable housing, so to see what the Parhar Group is doing with the Clements Centre is fabulous. I think this is a no-brainer.”
Mayor Rob Douglas said he’s glad that the partners are applying for funding for the project through the Community Housing Fund.
“One of the frustrations for many of us since the province launched the program in 2018 is that there’s only been a handful of submissions to it from the Cowichan region,” he said. “It’s great to see one of the local non-profits stepping up.”
