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Russ Francis

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Report Comments posted by Russ Francis

  1. In a revised “Letter to Council,” Aryze says it has now abandoned plans to use the BC Housing Affordable Home Ownership Program (AHOP) to help finance construction and to provide second mortgages for the proposed 18 townhomes. In the undated letter, posted to the city’s development site on June 2, 2021, Aryze principal Mari cites several reasons for dropping the idea.

    “Unfortunately, due to the length of processing time, volume of off-site improvements, rampant increase in construction costs, and the Fall 2020 BC Provincial Election, we don’t have firm direction from BC Housing on the details surrounding this program.”

    It was partly Premier John Horgan’s fault for calling the last election early, on October 24? The connection escapes me.

    And Aryze has no “firm direction” from BC Housing? One can’t help but wonder whether it has merely a soft direction—or any direction at all.

    “With these details in mind,” the letter continues, “we are pivoting the project to include four homes (22%) to fall under the Capital Regional District’s price restrictive resale program whereby the homes are sold between 15% - 25% below market in perpetuity.” Just two of the one-bedroom units and two of the three-bedroom units would sell “below market.”

    June 29 2021 UpdateAryze June 2021 Letter to Council.pdf

    In a June 29 email to interested parties, Mari suggests that the public hearing for the project will occur “this summer.”

    While we are driven by our commitment to advocate for attainable housing in our city, the road for 902 Foul Bay has been challenging,” Mari says in the letter. “Every day we are reminded about the lack of housing supply within Victoria, yet it continues to take far too long to bring townhomes to market—especially affordable ones.”

    Later in the letter, Mari adds: “We’re disappointed with the process to date . . .”

    I understand his disappointment: Those annoying neighbours, heritage advocates and tree-lovers sure do slow things down!

    Mari adds that the two 1-bedroom units will sell for $360,000 and the two 3-bedroom units for $640,000.

    Aryze June 29 2021 902 Foul Bay Project Update.pdf

  2. BC currently has no provincial health officer order restricting door-to-door canvassing, according to a July 14 health ministry statement sent in response to an emailed  Focus query. However, said the statement, "Dr [Bonnie] Henry emphasizes the importance of physical distancing and other public health measures such as wearing masks, clean hand hygiene and staying home when you are sick."

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