The realization of the dream of Centrepoint is within sight, but there is still more fundraising to be done.
While the development permit for the project was granted at Squamish council on Nov. 18, Centrepoint – the $8.2-million downtown community services hub set for the corner of Fourth Avenue and Victoria Street – still needs financial backing.
“We are really pleased to have met this important milestone… but there are two processes happening: there is planning, development and construction, and there is fundraising,” said Estelle Taylor, Sea to Sky Community Services’ capital campaign co-ordinator.
The Centrepoint project is a partnership between Sea to Sky Community Services and Squamish United Church, which donated the land for the facility.
Taylor said some of the fundraising had to be put on the back burner to focus on getting the latest design elements completed, but now attention is shifting back to the $3-million capital campaign, about $1.35 million of which has been raised to date.
The facility will include community rooms, a preschool, a sanctuary for Squamish United Church, programming rooms and office space, and it will consolidate some Sea to Sky Community Services.
The building has grown from the original plan of seven or eight units of affordable housing to now include 32 units of affordable housing.
“The target remains at $3-million, even though the building has become more expensive,” said Taylor.
For the project, Sea to Sky Community Services took on a $4.2 million mortgage.
“It is a massive investment for us but because of the wide ranging community benefit, we feel the investment is worth it,” Taylor said.
The housing units will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.
“With that mix of housing we feel that we are able to meet a lot of the community need,” said Taylor.
“Someone leaving home for the first time, with their first new job – then a studio might work great for them…. A single mom might need the two-bedroom,” she said.
There will also be units for suitable for residents who are disabled.
The plans include 32 off-street parking stalls in addition to 15 street parking stalls and one loading bay on the street in front of the development, according to the district.
Residents should be able to move into their new homes in summer of 2016, according to Taylor.
Next up for the project is the building permit stage.
Taylor said she thinks construction will begin this spring and she hopes to bring in more funders once that happens.
“A lot of foundations don’t want to hear about a building that might be built two years from now.
They kind of work on an annual cycle and they are happy to give you the money that year and they can’t think that far ahead,” she said.
Taylor said after a successful summer community campaign that raised $183,115, she won’t be going hat in hand to the community for more.
“We are looking for money from governments, businesses, philanthropic foundation types and individuals,” she said. “We are not going to keep bugging locals for money.”
Sea to Sky currently runs two family housing properties in Squamish, Castle Rock Family Housing, which offers subsidized family housing and Riverstones Housing Development that has some rent-geared to income and affordable housing units.
The not-for-profit Sea to Sky Community Services has been in the corridor since 1978 and currently helps 4,000 people in need a year through numerous programs and services.
For more information on Centrepoint, go to www.buildingopportunities.ca.
