Kelowna councillor ‘insulted’ by developer’s plan for attainable housing in downtown highrise

The controversial redevelopment of the former RCMP site in downtown Kelowna has stirred up another hornets nest.

At issue this time is the developer has proposed 10% of the units in the 25-storey tower to be “attainable” by his own definition. That means studio apartments would rent for more than $2,000 a month.

Those who were on council when the land was rezoned said they supported it because it would be much needed rental housing downtown.

“To my surprise, when this came into my package last week, I was absolutely shocked, also, as a couple of others on council have said,” councillor Maxine DeHart said today, Nov. 21. “I was actually insulted by this report, I’ll be honest with you.”

Mayor Tom Dyas started off the attack by asking for a discussion on the issue rather than having council ask questions of staff after they presented their report. In the past, things are done the other way around.

“Whether it be the word attainable or whether it be the word affordable, it does not fit in the boundaries of what we’re trying to accomplish and especially since it sits on city property that is leased," Dyas said. "If we’re going to look for the community to establish housing within their developments which is affordable, we need to lead the way.”

When a long-term lease was first proposed for the former RCMP site, a lobby group was formed, called the Legacy Group, whose members wanted the whole civic properties area studied first. That effort failed so a call for proposals was put out that called for a maximum of 13 storeys.

READ MORE: Kelowna group wants to slow sale of old RCMP building in favour of grander plan

The design for that building sparked complaints because it was so massive.

It was redesigned to a thinner, 25-storey tower which some said did not fit the original call for proposals and argued that it should be put out to tender again.

READ MORE: Petition triggers redesign of controversial downtown Kelowna highrise

Now, the developer has come forward with a housing agreement that has 10% of the units – all studio suites – renting for 30% of Kelowna’s median household income of $82,000.

That would put the tiny studio suites on the market for $2,050, more than the going rate in the city for one-bedroom units.

READ MORE: This is what 'attainable' housing looks like in new Kelowna tower

Council approved an affordable housing project last week that based rent on the median renter income, which is $47,500 councillor Luke Stack explained. That would put these units at the $1,180 level.

“Based on this $82,000 income limit, it doesn’t seem we’re getting any attainable or affordable housing,” he said. “It’s really not accomplishing anything.”

They were told by staff there's no solid definition of either affordable or attainable housing and this was simply the definition used by the developer.

The developer will now have to draft a new housing agreement because the project cannot go ahead without one.

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