A 25-unit affordable apartment building for women and children in Steveston has been the subject of a form-letter campaign, opposing its construction.
The building, on a city-owned lot at the corner of Railway Avenue and Steveston Highway, will be dealt with at next week’s planning meeting.
The city recently received a grant from the federal government for $9.1 million to build the facility, which will be run by Turning Point Housing Society and is meant for women and children who are facing challenges finding housing.
The city received 102 form letters opposing the housing project - some were from the immediate surroundings and others from the nearby vicinity.
One letter noted that Turning Point has in its name “recovery society.”
However, the society created an affiliate organization – Turning Point Housing Society – when the 129-unit Storeys building was constructed about five years ago in city centre.
In a letter of clarification, Turning Point executive director Brenda Plant notes this building isn’t a recovery home nor is it a low-barrier building.
There will be Turning Point staff on site 24 hours a day.
Furthermore, she noted, the homes are meant for long-term residents.
“Individual counselling and support services will be provided as needed to assist residents in building strong, happy and productive lives,” Plant said in her letter. “Many will already have jobs, be seeking employment opportunities or advancing their education.”
Some feedback questioned who would live in the building, noting the location was inappropriate because it was across from a pub.
Other comments mentioned the “challenges” of traffic flow and parking as well as the risk of property values going down.
“The presence of affordable housing units, particularly if they are concentrated in one specific area, may result in a perceived decline in the desirability of our neighborhood, which could consequently affect property values,” reads the feedback.
“The City is trying to shoot in a recovery facility in a quiet, peaceful, harmonious and family-oriented neighbourhood without disclosing the details to the neighbours,” reads another piece of feedback.
There will be 15 studio apartments and 10 two-bedroom apartments in the three-storey building.
