BY GREG SAKAKI
The City of Nanaimo has started a process to amend the official community plan to allow for a potentially transformational mixed-use development in Harewood.
City council, at a meeting Monday, Aug. 28, passed first and second readings of OCP amendment and re-zoning applications related to the Te’tuxwtun project along Fifth Street.
The project covers 2.35 hectares, stretches one and a half city blocks from Harewood Road to Georgia Avenue, and includes school district property, the city’s Harewood Sports Field, and the old Sanala social housing site.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in 2019 by the City of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw First Nation, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools and B.C. Housing, setting a framework and guiding principles for land-use planning. At this week’s meeting, the results of those years of work were presented. Te’tuxwtun – which shares Mount Benson’s traditional name – is proposed to include six residential buildings and other mixed-use development, and a staff report described it as “a land and community enhancement project incorporating housing, services, education, outdoor spaces and amenities.”
Approximately 390 apartments would be constructed in six mid-rise buildings overtop of underground parking. The development concept proposes 356 market rental units and 34 below-market rental units. Included in the mix would be both accessible units and family-sized homes as large as four-bedroom units. Commercial and institutional spaces such as an alternative learning school, daycare, gathering place and recreational facility are also envisioned.
The buildings will be situated around a shared natural open space in a longhouse-inspired concept. Joan Brown, Snuneymuxw First Nation chief administrative officer, said there’s intention to bring the natural world into the built environment which she said can have a healing effect.
Brown said so often people are just trying to survive, whereas she hopes Te’tuxwtun can give them a chance to thrive.
“The time has come, and it’s through leadership like … our respective councils [and] our school district trustees that have said we want things to be different,” she said. “We have the skills, we have the knowledge, we have the beautiful land and the love and the care for each other.”
Mark Walsh, school district secretary-treasurer, said the Te’tuxwtun partners have been working on a model to try to solve a lot of issues with one project. SD68, for example, has an interest in community amenities related to education, and even potentially workforce housing.
“You see in front of you various interests and various needs that have come together,” he said. “We hope to bring a project that’s going to be more powerful than the sum of its parts.”
Thomas Bevan, development manager with B.C. Housing, said although treasury board approval will still be needed, the provincial government is aware of the project and ready to provide funding when the time comes.
“This project is a very high priority for B.C. Housing and our redevelopment team, to build public housing on public lands,” he said.
Asked who will qualify to live at Te’tuxwtun, Bevan said the first priority will be to re-house displaced Sanala tenants. After that, the housing operator – likely Snuneymuxw – could take the lead on determining tenants, or could choose to use B.C. Housing’s registry. Sheryl Peters, B.C. Housing’s provincial director of redevelopment, said even with the market-rental units, an income test will apply to qualify to live there.
Council passed first and second reading with minimal discussion late in Monday’s five-hour meeting, but Coun. Sheryl Armstrong said it was amazing to see how the project has progressed since the MOU was signed and Coun. Ian Thorpe expressed excitement about the project and appreciation for the work that has gone into it.
Advancing the project will require the city to hold an alternative-approval process to remove Harewood Sports Field’s park dedication. Citizens opposed to removal of the park dedication will need to submit an elector response to the city by Oct. 10.
Council voted unanimously in favour of first and second reading of the OCP and re-zoning amendments. First and second reading of the park dedication removal bylaw passed 8-1 with Armstrong opposed.
READ ALSO: Snuneymuxw First Nation joins partnership for Harewood school site development
READ ALSO: Province announces partnerships to develop old Harewood School site
