Uplands Drive Project

6025 Uplands Drive is one of five sites for supported housing in Nanaimo. The project will be developed and operated by Pacifica Housing, a non-profit charitable organization, incorporated in 1988. Its mandate is to provide innovative, affordable housing opportunities and support services for families and single adults in order to break the cycle of homelessness and allow them to live with dignity, safety and stability.  News Release: Societies selected for Nanaimo supportive housing sites

The building will house low-income male and female singles (45 years and older) who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and that have complex issues which may include mental illness and addictions.

The building will provide more than just shelter to its residents. Each resident will work with staff from Pacifica Housing, the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) and other service providers to develop and follow an individualized program of assistance. Services offered will vary by person, but might include direct health care, counselling, addictions treatment, nutrition education, basic life skills training, family support, job skills training, or income and employment services. Some of the services will be provided on-site; others will be offered at different locations in the community. Case managers from VIHA will help to coordinate the different services that make up each program. Pacifica Housing staff will support the case managers, and will provide 24/7 on-site supervision.

The housing on Uplands Drive will improve the quality of life for those who call it home. For these people, the project will be a sanctuary, away from the street, where they can get the help they need. The building will stand out as a high quality, low-rise apartment complex that will complement the residential character of nearby neighbourhoods.

Why was this location chosen for supportive housing?  In October 2008, City Council adopted "Nanaimo's Response to Homelessness Action Plan" that formed the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding with BC Housing to provide up to 160 new housing units for homeless residents of Nanaimo.  Under the MOU, BC Housing provides capital and operating funds to construct and maintain the housing for up to 60 years, including funding for the necessary 24/7 staffing at each site (close to $27 million announced to date). The City's role is to provide development-ready sites. The City's policy is to distribute social services and social housing throughout the community; these sites were chosen to ensure access to local transportation, shopping and employment opportunities.

In response to the input received during public meetings held with residents of the Hospital and Quarterway neighbourhoods, the allocation of 70 units to the Dufferin site was considered to be too many units for one location and the need for an additional site was identified by City Council in an open meeting on August 9, 2010 (view report). In accordance with the City policy regarding the distribution of social service facilities across the community, staff undertook a review of potential sites in the north part of Nanaimo.

Direction to proceed with the utilization of the City-owned property at 6230 Hammond Bay Road (now 6025 Uplands Drive) was approved by Council on October 25, 2010 (view report). The report was then forwarded to BC Housing with a request for their approval to modify the MOU to include the Uplands site and allocate 36 apartment units to the site. Upon receipt of Treasury Board approval, a press release was issued by BC Housing on September 13, 2011, announcing the Uplands site (view press release).

On May 30, 2011 City Council passed a resolution in an open Council meeting confirming their intent to proceed with the sites on Dufferin Crescent and the (at that time) yet unnamed north end location prior to proceeding with the supportive housing site at 1406 Bowen Road (view resolution).  The intent of the partners is to invest in results that actually end homelessness in our community. City Council and BC Housing are dedicated to addressing the issues of homelessness in Nanaimo and to meeting the commitments under the MOU.

What are the permitted uses on the Uplands site?  There are two aspects to this question: Zoning and the Crown Grant:

Zoning: The zoning of the property was P-3 Public Institution Use under Zoning Bylaw 2000, which has allowed "health and public safety uses" since 1979. In 1993, the zoning changed to P-2 Public Institution under Zoning Bylaw 4000 which allowed a wide variety of public uses including "personal care facilities." Most recently the City has adopted Zoning Bylaw 4500 which zones the property CS-1 Community Service One which also allows "personal care facilities." Each of these bylaws was adopted following a public hearing. The subject property has always been identified for public purposes and Supportive Housing meets this definition. Council has approved the use of the site for this bona fide public purpose. As the use has been permitted under public/institutional zoning for over 30 years, no public hearing was required.

Crown Grant: The parcel of land that the Supportive Housing Project will be built on was provided to the City by the Province of BC through a Crown Grant. Under the original 1984 Crown Grant, the use on the land was restricted to Library uses only. In 1994, the City subdivided the parcel to create the land for the Fire Hall. At the request of the City, the Province of BC amended the Crown Grant to include Fire Hall Use. In anticipation of the Supportive Housing Project, the City asked the Province to amend the Crown Grant to include Supportive Housing. The Province fulfilled that request in March 2011. There is no public process involved in amending Crown Grants.

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