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Revelstoke affordable housing complex ready for residents

The first residents have moved into the new affordable housing complex on Oscar Street, with more expected to show up in the coming months.
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From left: Glenn O'Reilly

The first residents have moved into the new affordable housing complex on Oscar Street, with more expected to show up in the coming months.

Glen O'Reilly of the Revelstoke Community Housing Society said eight of the 12 units have already been rented, while a few more applications came into the society last week.

The society built eight two-bedroom and four one-bedroom apartments on Oscar Street. Two of the units are accessible. They are move-in ready, with only the exterior landscaping and the backyard storage sheds still in need of completion.

The apartments were built for $3.22 million, most of which came from BC Housing and other sources. The society borrowed $899,500. Rents range from $550-650 for the one-bedroom apartments, and $750-850 for the two bedroom apartments. The actual rent depends on a person's income.

Deb Wozniak, who is handling applications for the society, said they received 30 inquiries about the apartments, and about 15 actual applications. Tenants can have a household income of no more than $65,000 and assets of less than $60,000 in order to qualify, with preference being given to Revelstoke residents.

The complex is being managed by Revelstoke Property Management Services. Mayor Mark McKee, who is also chair of the housing society, said they were the only company to bid on the contract to manage the units.

Meanwhile, the housing society is restructuring its board of directors by reducing the number of city councillors one the board to one from the current four.

Council agreed to the changes in the closed-door portion of their Mar. 8 meeting. McKee said the move was done for two reasons. First, it will get the debt and assets of the society off the city's books. Second, he said it would be better to have residents that are concerned about housing on the board, as opposed to appointed councillors.

"Having more citizens from the community sitting on the board, I always felt was a good thing," said McKee. "It's going to have less councillors, but more concerned citizens. The city is always going to have representation on there and anything that happens has to get approval from the city because it's our property."

The current board consists of McKee, councillors Linda Nixon, Connie Brothers and Gary Sulz; Bruce McLellan, Glenn O'Reilly, Cathy Girling, Peter Bernacki, Tim Luini, Loni Parker, and Alan Mason.

McKee, who has been chair of the society since its inception, said he plans on stepping down from the board once the Bridge Creek project is finalized.

"I want to make sure this project is 100 per cent finished, and that would be the time for the new group to come in," he said. "They can look at what's been done, and opportunities for the future."