news

Cranbrook, BC (February 24, 2022) – Recent approvals of OCP and rezoning applications on two proposed apartment complexes, and the construction of 292 new rental units in the Broadstreet property on Innes Avenue in 2021 is helping meet the goals of Council and the goals laid out in the Housing Needs Report.

So far in 2022, Council approved both a Development Variance Permit and a Development Permit for a proposed 71-unit multi-family apartment complex in 1716 – 4th Street North, while also approving Official Community Plan and Zoning Amendments for another proposed 75-unit, multi-family apartment complex at 1001 - 10th Street North. 

The 10th Street project is expected to come back to Council for approval for both a Development Permit and a Development Variance Permit in the near future. Both projects still need to work through the building permit process before construction can begin.

“Developing new purpose-built rental units in Cranbrook geared toward young professionals and seniors is needed as many of Cranbrook’s apartment units built in the 1970s and 1980s have been converted to strata taking them out of the rental pool,” says Mayor Lee Pratt. “Once more new high quality rental units become available people will be able to move into the units freeing up spaces in older units.”

A central finding of the Housing Needs Report, completed in November 2020, is the shifting demographics occurring in Cranbrook, including smaller family sizes and people per household, and aging seniors. The report observes that the current housing situation is not a shortage of units but instead a mismatch between types of housing units available and the emerging housing needs of the community.

The report highlighted the limited options for aging seniors to downsize, reducing the number of entry level availability for homeowners and young families. The report also identified challenges for low-income households to afford average rents, older rental buildings deteriorating and not suitable for seniors and those with accessibility needs. Existing rental housing stock with a disproportionate number of large units with multiple bedrooms and too few one-bedroom units was also an important finding in the Housing Needs Report.

You can read the complete Housing Needs Report here.