Tofino Housing Corporation
Vision: A safe, secure and affordable place to live is available to all people who call Tofino home.
PROJECT UPDATES
Creekside - Moved In!
The 14 units of rental housing at Creekside are now occupied by 14 households comprising 23 adults, 9 children and two more wee ones on their way (that we know off!).
A big thanks to the all the hardwork by the Catalyst Community Developments Society team, Saywell Contracting team and their subcontractors, District of Tofino and CMHC as the principle funder / financier of the project.
We hope those who have moved in enjoy their new home and we anticipate an event later this year at Creekside to properly celebrate.
If you did not get selected in the lottery for Creekside then you are now on the waiting list for when they are vacancies. If you did not participate in the lottery and you are interested in possibly renting at Creekside in the future then email sharp.road.rentals@ardentproperties.com to be added to the bottom of the waitlist (it has 70 ish households on it).
Anyone on that waitlist or the Tofino Housing Corporation email list - please email execdirec@tofinohousingcorp.ca to be added - will be notified about the application and selection process for the next rental opportunity at Headwaters when the time comes. We anticipate that process to start earlyish in 2023 for a summer 2023 move-in date.
Headwaters Construction Progress
The stepped building site is starting to take shape! In April there were a delays encountered, and the BC Hydro ducts and foundations were not started as planned, but the following progress was made:
- ongoing installation of district service connections and services
- underground connections to the buildings
- continued prep of the building site
The planned progress for May includes installation of BC Hydro work and building foundations starting.
Headwaters - Construction Started
The Catalyst Community Developments Society and the builder, Saywell Contracting have started construction, with the extension of Peterson Drive (south from the Leighton Way intersection) to access the 5 new lots owned by the Tofino Housing Corporation and site clearing and grading of the Headwaters North (Lot 2) site. Construction of the Headwaters North rental apartment building will begin in February, with completion expected late spring of 2023. Construction of the second apartment building - Headwaters South (Lot 1) - is also expected to start in 2022, but timing of this is still being confirmed.
If you would like to receive regular updates about the construction schedule and activities please email Helen Lui, the Development Manager, at helen@catalystcommdev.org. More information on the project is available on the DL 114 FAQs page. Details on the rental housing application process will released later in 2022.
The BC Housing Community Housing Fund has selected both Headwaters North (35 units) and Headwaters South (37 units) as affordable rental housing projects. The Fund will be providing a capital grant of approximately $7.7 million to the two rental housing projects and an ongoing operating subsidy. A mix of studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units will be rented to families, seniors and others at a range of different rents. Twenty percent of the units will be affordable to those on fixed incomes or social assistance, 50% of the units will have rents fixed to 30% of household income and generally eligible to those making between approximately $25,000 and $65,000 and 30% of the units will be affordable market units with rents ranging between approximately $900 and $2000 depending on unit size.
Tofino Housing Corporation Overview
As the construction of the rental housing at 700 Sharp Rd (down the road from the Dolphin Motel) is underway and the first apartment building at DL 114 (up behind the Peterson Drive housing) is scheduled to begin construction later this year, the THC has released an overview publication: why THC exists, who is eligible for THC-facilitated housing and how THC is funded.
STRATEGIC PLAN: 2021-2023
The Tofino Housing Corporation has released its 2021-2023 Strategic Plan. The plan outlines a renewed vision, mission, four focus areas and the strategic priorities for the next three years. THC has a vision of A safe, secure and affordable place to live is available to all people who call Tofino home with a mission to facilitate development and operation of below market housing in Tofino. The Plan is the Corporation's guide to take it through this first phase of development at DL 114 and Sharp Rd and the actions required to set the stage for meeting its 2030 development target. For more information on the THC focus areas and strategic priorities and actions please consult the Strategic Plan.