By Cheryl Jahn

Council receives housing report

Mar 15, 2023 | 4:01 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – With all the housing construction in recent years, one wouldn’t think there are any housing needs in this community.

But there are.

“With our demographic changes, aging population needing seniors, housing, a growing population, population needing more housing, economic activity, headed for the region needing even more,” explains Deklan Corstanje, Manager, Economic Development. “So, you know, we’re projecting a large population, therefore the housing needs will continue to grow. And so along the spectrum, from market to supported to safety net, there’s, you know, varying amounts of housing needed for all of it.”

The previous housing needs assessment was based on Statscan figures from the 2021 census. Much has changed since then. In fact, for a variety of reasons, this city will need 8,100 new housing units of differing kids by 2031.

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“So we need to figure out where densification was taking place, what type of housing we need, the age group to size, where the schools should be, that where they knew also all of the things we need to discuss,” says Mayor Simon Yu.

In its best year, the City built 600 units. Mayor Yu says recent major projects and more on the way could see Prince George expand considerably.

“I do believe Prince George is on track to grow with 2025 when when Site C flips its switch on and LNG starts flowing towards Kitimat to Prince George’s situation situated at the mouth of an energy corridor.”

The report identifies the need for 3,100 purpose-built market rentals, 2,500 single-family homes and 1,900 subsidized rentals, 300 long-term seniors supportive housing, 101 short-term supportive housing and 62 emergency shelter spaces. But Corstanja identifies what he calls pinch points to addressing the housing needs.

“So the types of factors that come into play and we’ll learn a little bit more as we sort of dive into how we solve the problem. But the things that we know of are the cost of building the cost of labor. Interest rates for, you know, lending as well as, you know, for contractors to actually finance builds.”

The new Housing Needs Assessment report will help City Administrators with future land use planning.