By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: July 24, 2013
District of Squamish will cover a part of the Development Cost Charge (DCC) and contribute $188,000 from the Affordable Reserve Fund for the Centrepoint project on Fourth Ave. in downtown Squamish.
In total, it will be an estimated contribution of $300,000, according to a media statement issues by Estelle Taylor, Capital Campaign Coordinator.[manual_related_posts]
For those unaware, Centrepoint is a new building on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Victoria Street in downtown Squamish.
The project is a partnership between Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) and Squamish United Church, where the church is donating the land for Centrepoint.
Centrepoint will contain a floor of affordable housing (six one-bedroom units and two studios), community rooms, a preschool, programming rooms and office spaces.
The project also includes the construction of a new church for Squamish United.
On June 17th, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation donated about $300,000 to help build Centrepoint. A month earlier, Squamish Savings also donated $250,000 for the Centrepoint project
Sea to Sky Community Services is working to raise $3 million through the Building Opportunities Capital Campaign.
Locals Owen Carney, Anne Carney, Ron Anderson, Paul Lalli, Sonja Lebans, Corinne Lonsdale, Drew Meredith and Jen Schorz are leading the fundraising efforts.
“The District of Squamish is pleased to support this beautiful new social services building.” Mayor Rob Kirkham.
Bringing all the services under one roof will save the society about $200,000 each year in what would otherwise be spent on rent, said Jackie Faulkner, manager of outreach services.
Instead, that money will go towards a mortgage, she explained, an asset that will eventually help put money back into the programs.
“It’s exciting for us because the office space that we have right now is cramped, there’s a lot of shared offices,” said Faulkner.
Meanwhile, on Second Avenue, Community Living Services is “bursting at the seams,” according to Donna Bent, Manager for Community Living Services.
Outreach Services has also been struggling in recent years, trying to find a large enough, affordable space, according to said Jan Oberson, Director of outreach services.
Rick says
Really? How about some breaks for us the taxpayer!
Carla says
Well said Rick! All owners of Squamish are working ourselves into the ground just to pay for our taxes that, in return, go towards helping others, but how does the entire town benefit from this? How about developing the waterfront so new homeowners and new business owner can help fund your deep pockets. And where was the town vote on this?
Dave says
Interesting that this appears to be a state of the art Social Services complex and yet the homeless shelter is going to be moved away into another neighbourhood away from the “to-be-enhanced” Downtown….hmmmm.
Smacks of some sort of …….quasi cleansing to me!
Jim says
A new church for the Squamish United, surely you jest.
Carla says
Haha yes, don’t we have enough!
Estelle Taylor says
Thanks for sharing the news, Gagandeep. This support to Sea to Sky Community Services won’t hit the tax bill. The District has an affordable housing reserve fund which is funded by developer contributions. That money can only be spent on affordable housing, and this project fits that criteria. The remaining support from the District for this project comes in the form of the District waiving developer charges — it’s a great savings for us, not actually money out of the District’s pocket. You can read more about Centrepoint, and how it will benefit the wider community, online: http://www.buildingopportunities.ca.