Housing project proceeds

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - July 04, 2008

With affordable housing critically short in Vernon, a new development hopes to ease the crisis.A ground-breaking ceremony was held Friday to launch construction of a 40-unit housing complex on 19th Avenue, adjacent to Vernon’s sewer treatment plant.“We need affordable housing for aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. The cost of housing is ridiculous,” said Val Chiba, president of the Vernon Native Housing Society, which is pursuing the project.It’s expected that construction will be wrapped up in the spring, with the facility — 26 apartment units and 14 townhouse units — ready for occupancy by next July.There will also be a daycare centre on the property.“The site will meet the needs of families,” said Tom Christensen, Okanagan Vernon MLA.However, there has been considerable debate about the initiative.The 2.3-acre site is being leased to the society by the City of Vernon over 60 years. It includes existing park. Many neighbours have expressed concern about the loss of green space, and they fear that the housing complex will escalate issues of crime and drugs. “It’s a very big problem. There are several drug dealers down here,” said Lori Calver, a resident.

Coun. Juliette Cunningham refused to avoid the situation while speaking during the ceremony.“It wasn’t an issue of not-in-my-backyard but legitimate concerns about the loss of green space and the crime that already exists,” she said. “All of us are committed to ensuring these concerns are addressed.” Terry Pakenham, the city’s Safe Communities Unit manager, is confident the housing project won’t add to problems in the neighbourhood, but he says a concerted effort is required to tackle criminal activity. He is looking at ways of working with the neighbourhood and to improve communication between residents and the Vernon Native Housing Society. “We need an opportunity to share information that the neighbourhood perhaps isn’t aware of,” said Pakenham.

Chiba is convinced the housing project will benefit the neighbourhood. “We are not slumlords,” she said, adding that the society has tough rules regarding drugs and alcohol. The society presently operates 62 affordable housing units for natives and non-natives in Vernon. Among them is Maggie King, who resides in Bella Vista area complex. “I was one of the hidden homeless with my granddaughter,” she said of previously inadequate housing she lived in. The total cost of the 19th Avenue housing project is $11.7 million, with the provincial government providing $10.8 million. Along with leasing the land (valued at $900,000) for a nominal fee, the city has provided $400,000 in reduced property taxes and development cost charges.