On the corner of Gorge Road East and Caroll Street are two old, blue buildings that used to be a motel. They now serve as Cedar Grove, a 22-unit supportive housing complex for VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Cool Aid Society that will soon receive a $17.5 million renovation.
While funding and rezoning applications are still being processed, the society says the largest obstacle to get shovels in the ground goes beyond paperwork.
B次元官网网址淭he thing that will slow us down before money is being able to find a suitable location for our 22 tenants,B次元官网网址� said Alan Rycroft, community relations manager for Cool Aid. B次元官网网址淩enovictions happen all over VictoriaB次元官网网址� but Cool Aid isnB次元官网网址檛 going to make anyone homeless.B次元官网网址�
The renovation will transform the complex from motel remnants to a new complex of 32 supportive housing units and 50 affordable housing units.
The tenants are made up of six women and 16 men, who need varying degrees of support for issues ranging from poverty to addictions and mental health challenges. Each resident currently pays $375 per month in rent.
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In order to keep the tenants feeling like they belong in a community, Cool AidB次元官网网址檚 largest priority is to keep them together when they move, and because of the varied resources for low-income individuals in Victoria, the ideal location would also be near the downtown core.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really hard, because the market is tough in real estate,B次元官网网址� Rycroft said.
While many avenues have been explored, at this point no strong contenders have come forward. Rycroft is hoping that perhaps Cool Aid could rent out an entire floor of a large building, but realizes the potential for problems are not dissimilar to those found at their current location.
The motel-style entryways into each apartment give Cool Aid little control over who goes in and out of the buildings, Rycroft said. ItB次元官网网址檚 one component of the current setup thatB次元官网网址檚 caused many tenants and neighbours distress.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty rowdy here sometimes. Police are here constantly dealing with people, and every once in awhile thereB次元官网网址檚 a bug infestation,B次元官网网址� said Darren, a Cedar Grove resident who only wanted to provide his first name.
Darren has lived at Cedar Groves for five years on disability, and said that while he sticks to himself, he knows that most of the issues donB次元官网网址檛 actually come from residents.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people come in here who donB次元官网网址檛 actually live here, and transfer the bugsB次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 mostly those people who cause the problems,B次元官网网址� he said.
The new design is slated to have a single entryway that requires people to be buzzed in. This would also help senior supportive housing worker Robert Jarvis keep track of the activity at Cedar Grove.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to give people the privacy they want, but at the same time monitor whatB次元官网网址檚 going on,B次元官网网址� Jarvis said. B次元官网网址淚t has its challenges.B次元官网网址�
Once a new, temporary home has been established for Cedar Grove residents, Cool Aid will pay for the move, maintain their current rent rate and give tenants priority for the right to refusal once the new facility is ready. Tenants will also continue to pay the same rent in the new building.
When asked if heB次元官网网址檇 consider moving back to Cedar Groves after the two-year construction period was complete, Darren was hesitant, saying a lot could happen in two years.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an option, but I donB次元官网网址檛 know if IB次元官网网址檒l be in a position to move again when that time comes around,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut, IB次元官网网址檇 definitely look into it.B次元官网网址�
Cedar Grove is still in the approval process, but has received funding from some levels of government, as well as a private $450,000 donation from the Sisters of Saint AnnB次元官网网址檚. On Thursday, the City of Victoria voted to put $600,000 toward the proposed 50 affordable housing units with a caveat that all zoning applications must be approved before funding is received.
