An affordable housing project being built in Sooke will have development cost charges waived by city council totalling more than $171,000.
And more financial help is on the way.
The Knox Vision Society is building a $11.3-million, 42-unit affordable housing facility on Church Road, which will consist of one, two and three-bedroom suites. The Knox Centre will also have space for a cafe and retail unit.
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The Knox Centre project is listed on B.C. Housing’s list of provincially-funded affordable housing projects, so council has the authority to waive the DCCs, but only on the housing portion, not on the commercial units.
Council, however, is now considering providing a grant to the society for the DCC fees paid for the commercial units, which amount to $12,500. It’s the same thing council did with the Hope Centre when it was built 10 years ago.
The society has also asked for a 10-year property tax exemption that won’t be determined until next summer and after a property tax assessment has taken place. The district’s new tax exemption bylaw is for five years.
Council is also considering waiving building fees and other municipal costs for the project, but those can’t be considered until hard costs for the project are determined. Municipal staff will report back to council next year on those costs.
Construction is set to begin on The Knox Centre early next year.
editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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