The City of Castlegar has an immediate need of 464 more housing units according to a recently released housing needs assessment.
The city contracted Resilience Planning, the same team that worked on the city’s housing strategy in 2021, to complete the report. Previously, housing needs assessments were done in 2018 and 2012.
The Province of B.C. now requires that local governments complete a housing need report every five years. Local governments must also align their official community plans and zoning bylaws to meet the housing needs identified.
The report says the 464 units are needed to meet current demand and to address historic deficiencies.
According to the report, Castlegar has too many larger size housing units and not enough small units such as studio and one bedroom apartments. Many Castlegar residents are currently over-housed or living in homes larger than needed, due to a lack of diverse housing options.
Key highlights in the report include:
• Average home sales prices have increased by 72 per cent over the last 10 years.
• Average rental costs have increased 55 per cent over the last 15 years.
• The number of households in the city is projected to increase by 18 per cent, or 664 households, by 2041.
• Castlegar residents are in need of additional smaller housing units to meet housing demand, while demand for larger housing units is shrinking.
• Castlegar’s population is aging, and there may be need for more housing typologies or programs to meet the needs of an aging population.
• There are indications that there is overcrowding in some households, where the number of available bedrooms does not meet needs.
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Suggested strategies to increase housing include increasing the intensity of housing permitted in residential areas and targeted growth areas, putting tools in place to ensure existing rental housing stock is protected and safe for the intended use, and provision of guidelines and incentives to increase the conversion of existing housing stock into smaller living units.
The report’s authors used data gathered from censuses, provincial reports, building permits and CMHC as well as engagement outcomes from the city’s recently completed Housing Strategy (2021). They also conducted 20 interviews with representatives from community-serving organizations, the school district, major employers, organizations working with seniors and youth, organizations serving Indigenous communities, and the real estate industry.
The entire housing report can be found on the city’s webpage as part of the June 5 city council agenda.
betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com
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