What was in the pipe vs. what was built

2018 to 2022 five-year check in on housing

BY PIETA WOOLLEY

Back in 2018, a house in qathet cost a measly $344,165 – but we were already firmly into the housing crisis. That year, qathet Living ran a scene-setting story outlining the current state of housing, and highlighting solutions.

“Powell River is perhaps the first city in North America to identify and solve its housing crunch in just five years,” I wrote hopefully.

We included a round-up of all housing in the pipe at Powell River City Hall, including publicly-funded housing, rentals, and owned multi-family (condos and townhomes) and small lots.

It’s been five years. The amount of change in this region would boggle our 2018 minds: COVID-19, the paper mill closing, population growth, and so much more. Mostly, the median selling price of homes here is $585,000, as of September, and the rental market is tight like a boa constrictor.

qL checked in with the City’s planning department to see where we’re at: what has actuallyvbeen delivered since five years ago.

What does the following reveal? That new housing plans – like everything else – is vulnerable to change. And solving a housing crisis isn’t as straight-forward as you’d hope.

New builds in Powell River: 2018 versus 2022

Non-profit & affordable

Projected units in Nov, 2018: 158+

Units completed, or nearing completion, Nov 2022: 164+

Market Rental

Projected units in Nov, 2018: 118

Units completed, or nearing completion, Nov 2022: 101

Owned multi-family & Small Lot houses

Projected units in Nov, 2018: 319

Units completed, or nearing completion, Nov 2022: 70

Total

Projected units in Nov, 2018: 595

Units completed, or nearing completion, Nov 2022: 335