Snug Cove Community Rental Housing
INTRODUCTION
BIRCH has partnered with Bowen Island Municipality and Lookout Health & Housing Society to develop a community rental housing project on a portion of lot 3 of the community lands on Miller Road. The project will provide 24± units of secure rental housing for Bowen Island Community Members; units will be in a variety of sizes from studios, up to 3 bed family units.
WHERE ARE YOU UP TO AND WHAT ARE NEXT STEPS?
As of March 2024 we are thrilled to announce the Miller Road Project has been approved for funding through the BC Housing Community Housing Fund. We will provide further updates as the project progresses.
A huge thank you to the project team: our development consultant – CitySpaces – and with funding from the VanCity Community Foundation, the Bowen Island Community Foundation and our ongoing partnership with Bowen Island Municipality.
GOALS
The goals of the project are to:
-provide 24± secure rental units for Bowen Island Community Members on part of the community lands.
-keep Bowen a vibrant and diverse community, by providing units of diverse sizes, at rents affordable to those living and working on island.
-fill a gap in the housing market, that is not being met by the private developers.
-be creative and innovative in design, energy efficiency and use of resources.
-provide 24± secure rental units for Bowen Island Community Members on part of the community lands.
-keep Bowen a vibrant and diverse community, by providing units of diverse sizes, at rents affordable to those living and working on island.
-fill a gap in the housing market, that is not being met by the private developers.
-be creative and innovative in design, energy efficiency and use of resources.
HOW WILL THIS PROJECT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY?
As stated throughout the Official Community Plan and recent Strategic Plans we want to keep Bowen a vibrant and diverse community. To achieve this, we must have diverse and affordable housing options. Our proposed rental housing will meet the needs of many struggling to find suitable rentals, as well as helping local businesses attract and retain staff.
WHERE IS THE PROPOSED LOCATION?
In summer 2019 BIRCH and Bowen Island Municipality agreed on a 0.15ha site on lot 3 of the community lands. The site location is at 1033 Miller Road, adjacent to the new firehall and behind the new health centre. See map below.
HOW WILL THIS PROJECT ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY?
We had previously formed a Community Engagement Committee (BARC), and hope to revive this group in Fall 2024 as part of the project planning process. The committee will be made up of representatives from the community, from varied backgrounds. The goal of this committee is to ensure community input on the project and gather ideas and perspectives from a variety of people, with a variety of backgrounds.
There will be further opportunities for the community to engage as the project progresses. This project is for Bowen Islanders, present and future, and they should have a say in what it will be.
There is also the possibility of collaborations, such as gardens, art installations, etc for the project, so we would be looking to explore those opportunities in the near future.
Questions?
Have more questions? You can use our contact page to get in touch. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as we can.
