Correspondence from Ryan S. re: REZ 2023-01
An email from a resident of 341 Island Highway regarding the impact of the proposed rezoning on low-income tenants and suggesting a Tenant Assistance Policy.
From: View Royal Planning To: Leanne Taylor; Jeff Chow; Stirling Scory Subject: FW: REZ 2023-01 Date: May 5, 2023 8:55:15 AM
FYI
Dawn Miles Development & Licensing Services Town of View Royal
45 View Royal Ave | Victoria, BC V9B 1A6 P. 250-479-6800 | Direct Line. 250-708-2256 www.viewroyal.ca
https://www.viewroyal.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/TownOfViewRoyal/
New BC Energy Step Code requirements are coming into effect on January 1, 2023 for Part 3 and Part 9 buildings. Please visit www.viewroyal.ca for more information.
Original Message
From: Ryan S. rshingles86@gmail.com Sent: May 4, 2023 5:39 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Cc: View Royal Planning planning@viewroyal.ca; Info Address info@viewroyal.ca; Building Permits buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca Subject: REZ 2023-01
Hello,
My name is Ryan. I am just emailing in regards to the zoning application and proposed development for 339, 341, and 345 Island Hwy (old cambridge hotel) across from the Fort Victoria RV Park.
As the township is well aware these current residences are filled with low income individuals, many of which on retired/fixed incomes, as well as persons with disabilities, and social assistance recipients paying significantly below market value rent.
These low rents for the most part aren’t even subsidized meaning most if not all of the residents have not applied for nor are they receiving subsidized rent savings.
I will get to my point and question- does View Royal have any sort of program in place like the city of Victoria or what was just announced today by the district of Saanich a “Tenant Assistance Policy”?
If you aren’t familiar with it the jist of the policy protects tenants/renters living in old buildings that have been set to be torn down and rebuilt into brand new larger buildings such as what is proposed for in View Royal.
Under both Saanich and Victoria’s policy current renters would be given right of first refusal on a unit in the new building set to be built on the existing property. A relocation plan would also be required of the developer to ensure tenants have somewhere to live while the new place is being built. Finally- under this policy these tenants NEW unit would be required to be rented to existing tenants at a rate of a minimum 20% below market rate.
Most of the tenants of the 35-40 units at these addresses are long term tenants many of which have lived there for 10+ years. I have personally been here for 9 myself. What could be surprising to some is that these units aren’t filled with what you see from most comparable low low income buildings in that there is next to no addiction or serious mental health issues with everyone here. Everyone is surprisingly well behaved which is why we all enjoy living here.
The bachelor units are rented for between 500-600 and the one bedroom units like what I have go for between 600-800 (latter for the newest tenants). My rent started at $500 for my original bachelor and is now $650 for one of the largest one bedroom units.
The thing that worries me about our upcoming evictions is that even if we are offered more than double the required 2-3 months free rent and lets say we are offered 6 months FREE rent well guess what? Even with 6 months free rent I would still be paying MORE than double the rent I am paying now within a single calendar year even after taking the 6 free months rent into account.
$3900 is great but paying $1500 for my new place in 6 months is $850 extra per month for rent that means after 5 short months the savings is gone and the pain begins which is why some sort of additional policy like being guaranteed one of the new units at 20% reduction in market rent well that $300 or so savings each month will go alot further than any $3900 in savings or whatever it is.
Sorry for all the hypothetical numbers but I think you get my point. There are alot of View Royal tenants lives at stake here and some of us have banded together to ensure we are NOT given the short end of the stick with some lowball cash (last few months rent free offer) that in our particular circumstances and with todays rental market would not go a long way at all.
There are some who have said if we get kicked to the curb it will have to be done physically and some have refused not to leave as no promises or agreements have been made by our landlord, the new property owners/developers in being offered new rental accomodations in the new proposed building. Renovictions are a huge topic in the news these days and if we as tenants are treated unfairly then it will be a big story with thr big rich developer kicking out a bunch of disabled people who now are forced to find a new rental unit in a market that will charge TRIPLE what we currently pay.
Its not feasible by any stretch of the imagination.
My goal in writing this email is just to make you guys aware or remind View Royal and council how serious a potential issue this could end up becoming and to give everyone involved as much notice as possible to hopefully do the right thing and ensure we are offered accomodations in the local vicinity at a nominal increase in rent. Its pretty sad when for me personally I would be THRILLED at a 50% rent increase from $650 to $975 for a replacement one bedroom unit.
Please keep the residents of the cambridge and pines suites at 341 and 345 Island Hwy on your guys’ minds when discussing the new rental units set to be built here and when speaking to the developer. There is a solution here. Nobody is asking for the same LOW LOW LOW rent cost. We understand a significant increase would be in order, but lets just hope its fair for everyone and that we have an apartment to go to.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate your guys’ time. Please if the mayor or someone in charge or management at the township could email me back just to let me know you have received this email and that you understand what it is I have said. I just want to know this email has been read thats all.
I hope everyone there has a wonderful day and an excellent upcoming weekend. I look forward to hearing back. I dont need promises or answers yet I just want to know ive been heard.
Take care, Ryan (resident of 341 Islandy Hwy Pines building- View Royal )
Sent from my iPhone