Calling it a win-win scenario, the provincial government announced funding for the construction of five new student residences for the southern interior of BC.
The project envisages solid wood buildings at the Okanagan College sites in Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm.
Kelowna and Vernon will each see two new buildings, one in Salmon Arm. The new building will create 376 affordable apartments for post-secondary students.
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More beds for UBC Okanagan students are coming as a residential project
According to the province, the number represents a 260 percent increase in the total number of student beds available.
“Affordable housing is key to building strong, healthy communities. This new dormitory will help students focus on their studies and its solid wood construction will create good jobs for local workers, ”Premier John Horgan said in a press release.
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“Our government remains committed to helping people get out of the pandemic while building an economic recovery that works for all. I am proud that this project can do both. “
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The projects are expected to cost a total of $ 67.5 million and include:
- Kelowna: two buildings with 216 beds valued at $ 36.4 million
- Vernon: A 100 bed building valued at $ 18 million
- Salmon Arm: two 60 bed buildings valued at $ 13.1 million
Of the $ 67.5 million project cost, $ 36.3 million was from a provincial grant, $ 30.2 million was from a provincial loan, and $ 1 million was from Okanagan College.
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Construction work is scheduled to begin in autumn and be completed by autumn 2023.
The houses will see different combinations of single, double and quad suites.
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The province says Okanagan College has no student accommodation in Vernon or Salmon Arm, but a building on the Kelowna campus has 144 students.
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“Students in Vernon and across the Okanagan will soon have affordable and sustainable housing near the school so they can continue to focus on their education and build better lives for themselves and their community,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon -Monashee.
“We listen and respond to dormitory concerns in the most affordable, innovative, and environmentally responsible way possible.”
In particular, the province says the Okanagan College project is expected to create more than 500 direct and indirect local jobs.
The province said since February 2018 it had funded 2,816 student beds as part of a 10-year housing plan for BC
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A board member of the Okanagan College Students’ Union, Evan Smith, called it good news.
“OCSU is pleased to announce that it is investing in college dormitories, particularly in the area I live in,” said Smith.
“There are so few affordable, student-friendly housing options here. This is a much needed and long overdue improvement. The Okanagan rental market is known to have been overpriced and busy for several years, affecting thousands of students.
“It is not acceptable to pay as much or more rent per month as tuition fees. We need a long term solution for Okanagan College students to have access to affordable housing while we graduate. “
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