Growth Coming, housing questions remain

Councillor Tim Bennett says the city’s own housing needs assessment shows more housing is still required, even before additional economic growth is factored into the equation.

“Our most recent housing needs assessment shows that we still need housing here in Prince George,” said Bennett. “While we’ve built a lot of houses over the last couple of years, we’re going to need to see more continue to go, especially as we start to see more economic development here in the community.”

The concern is not simply about the number of homes available today. Instead, planners and policymakers are trying to determine whether housing supply can keep pace with future demand.

Large-scale projects often bring hundreds of workers during construction phases and create permanent jobs once completed. If several projects move forward simultaneously, the demand for both rental and ownership housing could rise quickly.

Prince George has already experienced housing pressures in recent years. Vacancy rates have remained tight compared to historical norms, and affordable housing continues to be a challenge for many residents, particularly those looking for rental accommodations.

Bennett says the city is attempting to address the issue through long-term planning initiatives, including policies that encourage infill development and higher-density housing.

According to Bennett, expanding outward is becoming increasingly difficult due to the costs associated with roads, utilities and other municipal infrastructure. Instead, the focus has shifted toward making better use of existing serviced land within the city’s growth boundaries.

As new apartment projects and multi-family developments emerge throughout Prince George, council hopes increasing density will help accommodate future residents while limiting the need for expensive infrastructure expansion.

Housing, however, is rarely a simple issue.

Paul Blais, Managing Director of Economic Advisory for Deloitte, says municipalities have an important role to play in creating the conditions necessary for new housing development.

“The municipality can play an important role in ensuring that the development environment and that’s actually a significant part of our recommendations which is continuing to enhance the development environment so that for businesses and housing developers alike it’s as easy as possible to get their foundations in the ground and start seeing results.”

Blais’ comments come as communities across Canada face housing challenges driven by population growth, labour shortages and rising development costs. The timing of housing construction can be particularly difficult, as developers often wait for clear market signals before committing to new projects.

That can create a scenario where demand arrives before enough supply is available, leading to increased competition for housing and higher prices.

For some observers, that possibility raises concerns about affordability if Prince George’s economy expands rapidly.

Residents could find themselves competing with incoming workers for rental units, while homebuyers could face stronger competition if inventory fails to keep up with demand.

Others, however, believe the local market is better positioned than many people think.

Prince George Realtor Bob Quinlan points to the city’s diverse housing stock as a significant advantage.

“We’re a very, very versatile community. We’ve got a lot of different types of homes, anywhere from apartments and suites to single-family dwellings, townhouses and manufactured homes. There is conformity to the demand for the properties on a lot of different scales.”

Quinlan says Prince George offers a range of housing options that can accommodate different lifestyles and income levels. From new subdivisions and townhouse developments to secondary suites and manufactured homes, the market continues to adapt to changing needs.

Recent construction activity throughout the city reflects that diversity. New apartment buildings have been added in several neighbourhoods, while residential development continues in areas such as University Heights, the Hart and other growing parts of the community.

Still, even those optimistic about the market acknowledge that future growth will require ongoing investment in housing.

The debate, therefore, is not whether Prince George needs more homes. Most agree that it does.

The larger question is whether those homes can be built quickly enough to stay ahead of demand.

With major economic opportunities on the horizon, city officials, industry leaders and housing experts appear to agree on one thing: planning cannot wait until growth has already arrived.

As Prince George continues to promote itself as a northern hub for industry and investment, the success of that growth may ultimately depend on something far less visible than a new factory, mine or data centre.

It may depend on whether the people coming to fill those jobs can find a place to live.

by Nick Dube

Growth Coming, housing questions remain

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