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Penticton  

Town supports new rentals

A developer proposing an affordable housing complex in Oliver's downtown will have mayor and council's support when it seeks approval and funding from BC Housing.

EllisDon brought forward preliminary plans this week to build the four-storey apartment on a prime vacant lot, located at 6089 Main Street.

The Town of Oliver was asked to provide a letter of support to EllisDon, and Mayor Ron Hovanes said that was an easy decision to make during Monday's council meeting.

"It could very well be a worthwhile project with upwards of 40 housing units and retail and underground parking on a key corner of town."

Current plans include 46 one and two-bedroom rental units, close to 2,900 square feet of ground floor commercial space and 74 parking stalls on the property.

"If they're talking rental units that are going to be affordable to a community, that's a godsend... Because there's not much of that being built anywhere. And this being in the downtown core, the site would just fit itself perfectly," Hovanes said.

The lot, which has been empty for close to 10 years, is zoned as downtown commercial, and the current blueprints wouldn't need rezoning or a formal public approval process.

Before any concrete plans hit council's desk, EllisDon still needs to buy the property and will need BC Housing to agree to buy the land after the apartment is built.

EllisDon is currently building a similar rental apartment in downtown Penticton, which will be sold to BC Housing upon completion.

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