Neighbours of Olive Devaud Residence recently received some answers to their questions of concern over the opening of an affordable housing pilot project in the former senior-care facility.
It was announced in November that Sunset Homes Society, the building’s owner, would be partnering with Housing Hope, a program of Powell River Education Services Society, to temporarily house people at risk for homelessness beginning in January.
“I have to admit that I’m here to try to stop this,” said Greg Coomber, a resident of Jordan Street, at an open house December 9. Coomber told approximately 70 people at the meeting he was worried about the effect the facility’s new use would have on the value of his home.
The pilot will house six people from January to June before the program is formally reviewed, said organizers.
“We’re not taking in people with extreme vulnerabilities. We want this to work,” said Kathleen O’Neil, Housing Hope program administrator. “We’re housing people who need support and a step up.”
Nearly 70 people, mostly nearby residents, attended the evening meeting at Olive Devaud. Coomber was among those who expressed their frustration with the project.
“It seems to me if you’re planning on putting six people in here, you could put the six people anywhere. You could put them where a whole bunch of people don’t live,” said Coomber.
O’Neil pointed out Powell River’s shrinking home-rental market and rising prices have been making it more difficult for programs like Housing Hope, and the project was an opportunity to help.
Sunset Homes Society put the 40,754-square-foot building and 2.4 acres of land up for sale in the summer for $2.385 million.
While the society’s board waited for the building to sell, Sunset Homes Society vice-president CaroleAnn Leishman heard about O’Neil’s need and saw a way to help out, she said.
“Our thought was to team up and allow a few people to move into the building temporarily,” said Leishman.
Several residents at the meeting questioned how the project could have the pilot begin in January without first applying for the building to be rezoned.
Leishman said she has contacted City of Powell River director of planning to find out if the building’s current institutional zoning allows for the project to go ahead without a zoning change. A change would add to the costs the society is paying to keep the building while it’s on the market, she said.
Leishman added it wouldn’t be feasible to change the zoning just to accommodate the short-term pilot.
Leishman apologized to residents on behalf of the society for not communicating the plans for the 48-year-old building.
A few neighbours at the meeting said they were not against the project, but wanted to have better communication so if problems come up there were avenues available to address them.
Leishman told those at the meeting the plan is to sell the building and use the proceeds to design and build new affordable housing for seniors at a different location.
She added because of the age of the building it wouldn’t be possible for the society to operate the building as it had been before VCH had taken it over.
“It would be great if the building does sell,” said Leishman, “but if it doesn’t, then we are looking at filing a rezoning application.”
If the building was taken off the market and rezoned, plans would include renovating sections to create one- and two-bedroom suites that could be rented out at market value to help support the project, she said.
Leishman explained the rezoning process would give the public a more formal way of registering concerns through a hearing and consultation process.
The building was originally opened in December of 1967 as Senior Citizens’ Boarding House, then was renamed Olive Devaud Residence in 1987 to commemorate Devaud, who donated the six-acre parcel to Sunset Homes Society to build affordable housing for seniors.
The project changed over the years to meet a growing need in Powell River for a seniors’ assisted-living facility.
