The District of Squamish council will discuss a proposal to create community space or affordable housing above the proposed fire hall in Garibaldi Estates.
The new design would allow up to 30 affordable apartments, though nothing has been finalized yet and a decision to move forward on seeking funding for the housing has yet to be taken by the council.
The construction of the Tantalus Fire Hall will begin directly after the completion of the Valleycliffe Fire Hall in 2022. The fire hall requires approximately 7,000 to 8,000 square feet of space, and there is enough space at the existing location to expand vertically.
According to a district report, this could include single level community space for programming or daycare or up to four storeys of apartments. These could either be affordable or market housing and the project could cost $15.8 million.
District staff has discussed the project with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association, but the staff report notes that CHMC funding is in high demand and there is a lot of competition for it.
There are other potential project funding options such as BC Housing, though staff are aware that new funding announcement from BC Housing have been rare.
Council will discuss the project on April 26.
Sharon Tait says
Perhaps these apartments could be added to the Squamish Housing Society ?