This trend is particularly acute in Oak Bay but the truth here is relevant to the entire region!
Neighbourhoods will change regardless, it’s up to us to ensure they support residents through every phase of their lives.
A Saanich toddler is turning his artwork into a fundraiser for the NICU that cared for his baby brother, who overcame serious health challenges after birth.
I think a request from students for advocacy at the very least merits discussion!
Saanich Police has impounded two vehicles and ticketed the owners for allegedly street racing after dash cam footage was submitted by a member of the community.
As we work to support the creation of more housing in Saanich, a new online tool will share that progress with the public! Check it out: https://ow.ly/yx4Y50YzTji
Read more: https://ow.ly/gtaf50YzTjh
There are other two bedroom units on the market in this neighborhood.
Studios?
0
How many 1-bed units are currently for sale in the area?
1.
Saanich Council approved 60 homes at Saanich rd and McKenzie Avenue
Unit breakdown:
-4 studios
-46 one bedroom units
-10 two bedroom units
Badly needed housing, but regrettable tree loss due to the constraints and servicing requirements of the site. Saanich looks to retain trees whenever possible.
As food prices and the cost of living continues to rise, a Saanich student is working to help food insecurity initiatives by creating the Food Recovery Alliance.
Saanich’s Hosuing Needs Report, Saanich’s Housing Targets, and disaggregated vacancy rates show there’s unmet Hosuing needs.
It’s not job done, it might be a challenging economic environment, but it’s a sure sign there is a lot more work to do on housing in Saanich and our Region!
Overall a 3.3% vacancy rate is a good thing, it means residents have more choices and a chance to negotiate a fairer price.
But in a lot of circumstances vacancy rates remain astoundingly low, which signals there’s sill a need for more housing for people in our community.
Another problem is the vacancy rate is not the same for every size of unit.
Saanich and the region desperately needs more 2-bed and 3+ bed units that are suitable for families!
The vacancy rate for 3+ bedroom homes is effectively 0%!
Rent would soften more, but a lot of the rental supply is very new and therefore more expensive than older units.
We went essentially 30 years without building rental housing so there’s a lot to catch up on!
Saanich took until 2024 to have more rental units than it did in 1991…
A healthy vacancy rate means demand is still strong but renters have more choice. This helps prices softened a bit overall.
3-5% Vacancy is considered to be a healthy housing market for both renters and rental providers.
This is pretty much the first time since the mid 1990’s that we have had a healthy vacancy rate!
What does the region’s and Saanich’s 3.3% vacancy rate actually mean?
Let’s look into it:
View Royal Councillor and police officer Damian Kowalewich is resigning his council seat after being promoted to Saanich Police Deputy Chief.
I would like to add that housing champions like Zac have done a lot to turn Saanich policies around and get a lot more housing built, but it takes a long time to turn that ship. Saanich is in a better position now than 4 years ago
Agreed!
Plus rezoning, DPs, BPs, Demolitions, and withdrawn applications are all currently reported as part of the housing target progress reporting already.
This supports a holistic look at our housing system.
As usual, the anti-housing argument includes a kernel of truth: housing starts depend on external factors as well
But all those external factors are equal between neighbouring CRD municipalities.
The remaining huge differences in home building is mostly explained by internal factors
There was a motion arising forwarded to committee that might come back:
It argues the housing target metric should be rezoning, development permits, and building permits approved rather than housing completions.
Last I checked only completed homes can meet community members Hosuing needs!
Right?
And there’s people who incorrectly call the balanced Condo market we have now as a “glut” and the softening of prices is somehow a bad thing?!
Yes! I think it runs until 2034. We have been pursuing this. And even without that specific program most major infrastructure has been supported by senior level government grants and transfers since forever.
Thanks for standing up for your community’s housing needs!
I agree, problem solvers focus on addressing the core issues directly, rather than finding a proxy to complain through!
New housing can actually help build the needed infrastructure and better yet improve its cost effectiveness
I’m glad to say the motion to ask the province to remove housing targets failed last night!
Housing targets are based on 75% of our community’s housing needs.
Regardless of external economic factors it’s our duty as council to do our level best to meet the housing needs of people in our community.
There’s some light requirements on doing asset management work, right now local governments have a it of autonomy on how this is done.
I think we best use that autonomy before the province eventually intervenes out of necessity. The choice is ours!
Agree with financial reform.
+1 to that!
Most local governments are grappling with the cost of delaying infrastructure replacement for decades to keep taxes artificially low.
Current councils are working hard to manage costs and ensure asset management makes the services and infrastructure residents rely on sustainable!
Become an at-home leak detective with a free kit from the CRD during Fix a Leak Week (March 16–22).
Saanich residents can pick up a kit at the Saanich Municipal Hall (770 Vernon Ave) — stop by the lobby during regular hours: Monday–Friday (8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).
Learn more: crd.bc.ca/leaks
Saanich, where I live, might actually be seeing more fourplexes being built than 1 for 1 replacements b/c of a shift to treat them similarly. This could grow exponentially (and reduce home prices) if they allow for incrementally greater density. But the politicians seem to be looking to stop this.