Council Embraces New Multi-Family Development Incentive Package
Primary and secondary growth areas for incentive package – image courtesy City of Prince George
Prince George, B.C.- There is a new incentive for the development of multi-family dwellings in Prince George.
Prince George City Council has approved a program that would give 5 or ten year tax exemptions for multi- family units that meet certain criteria.
The incentives designed to correct the mismatch in housing options in Prince George as there is a shortage of multi family dwellings, and a shortage of affordable housing, especially for seniors.
For a 10 year break, the development must be built in a primary area ( denoted in green in the image above). The area were selected because they are serviced by transit and are close to amenities such as grocery stores, medical services . Five year exemptions would be available for projects in the secondary (pink) areas noted on the image above.
But building the project in a certain area is not the only criteria. To qualify, the development must involve three or more units, each unit must have a private balcony or porch or access to a green space. The project must have a minimum value of $300 thousand dollars and meet all design standards. One half of the units must be “adaptable” in that they have wider hallways, and the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom on the main floor must have a 1.5 m turning radius plus lever-type door hardware.
For non profits, there is a potential for development cost charges to be waived if the project meets all of the tax exemption requirements, plus be non profit housing, and agree to a covenant that limits tenancy for 10 years.
There is also an opportunity for some other reductions if the project meets certain environmental criteria and there is a proposal before the Northern Development Initiative Trust that would see an incentive of $5,000 per door if the multi units are seniors housing within the preferred areas. That proposal will be discussed by NDIT in February with a decision to be made at that time.
“I’m extremely pleased with this” says Mayor Lyn Hall “We heard loud and clear (during community consultations) about seniors housing, about affordable housing, and think that there needs to be a mechanism in place so we are competitive with the market, and this ( incentive package) hits the nail on the head.”
Mayor Hall says the package will help not only local developers, but those from out of town who are looking for opportunities who can find incentive packages elsewhere. He also says it will go far to keeping Prince George residents in Prince George “Those folks who want to move into a smaller footprint home can do so here, they don’t have to think about moving out of Prince George, they can stay here and they can access this kind of development in their backyard. So now, , quite often they start talking about leaving Prince George and moving to other communities.”
The Mayor says this incentive package will make Prince George a competitive market when it comes to development of affordable and seniors housing.
Comments
$300 thousand dollars and meet all design standards is an affordable retirement housing solution?
Posted on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 @ 8:01 AM by Loki with a score of 0
$300 thousand dollars and meet all design standards is an affordable retirement housing solution?
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My first thought as well. I’d really like to see the study that said this was feasible.
Knowing this city, they probably just took the word of some smooth talking developer.
Nevermind about the tax paying, hard working, families in single family dwellings. You work hard for a roof over your head, then you get taxed so much that you can’t afford nor enjoy the roof over your head. This will Only benefit investors from lower mainland buying PG properties, retrofitting them and benefitting from high rent with a tax break. C’mon PG city coucil! Give your heads a shake!
This was about time, we need to encourage multi family dwellings in our city, way below average.
As for the 300k… I think it refers to the total cost of development, specifically, to stop developers from buying a house and renovating it just to receive the incentive. (Of course, if they spend 300k renovating a house they likely aren’t going to make money from it.)
This is meant for Town/Row houses or condo buildings. So in that sense, makes a lot of sense.
Seems to me the $300,000.00 is the minimum for a three unit or more project. That’s how I read it.
forgive me, but I’m not seeing where the $300K is mentioned! Nor am I seeing where this could be applied to a renovation. It seems pretty clear that this only applies to newly built multi family complexes (minimum 3 units) in the designated areas. Besides, $300K for 3 units is going to be pretty modest accommodations!
The city’s website in regards to the proposal on Nov/30 shows the provincial stats from 2011 and PG stats from 2011 (Almost 4 years ago). Why was there not more digging done to bring in more correct numbers? Why not use cities that are closer to the size of PG?
How does one get 50% of 3 units to be Adaptable Units?
Under their heading of options are:
1 Infill Housing
2 Duplex Mid-Rise Apartment
3 Row/Townhouse
4 Narrow Lot House
5 Laneway House
6 Estate Lots
7 Secondary Suites
9 Mobile Homes
9 Seniors Communities
10 Shelters & Temporary Housing
What I find amusing is Secondary Suites and Mobile Homes in the equation. Does the city not already have problems with these?
Anyone know if Lombardy trailer court was approached by a developer or two since spring time? I believe there is also another trailer park that cannot move any new trailers into it thus limiting the owners business. But certain others can still bring in older trailers and fix them up to rent out?
Did the researchers not look into other areas of the province that are increasing trailer parks for seniors due to affordability to seniors?
I support this idea as long as there is not over-saturation of units like the Upland Street area. There should be a limit of how many units are allowed within close proximity to each other. We do have a need for affordable housing for seniors, low-income families and people with disabilities. Keep them small and manageable, and they will be a great asset to the city.
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