THREE CAR PILEUP: No major injuries in Monday crash PAGE 8
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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022
OPENING DAY!
VOL. 48 NO. 18
BIUndercurrent
BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
New Farmers Market season underway PAGE 1213
Housing committee says at least 30 rental units needed immediately ALEX KURIAL Editor
BOWEN BUCCANEERS: Despite their guide sporting an eye patch, the crew of the Minuet were in good hands for their Sunday morning sail during Bowen Island Yacht Club’s opening day. The group held their first sail past in 15 years as boats fully embraced the pirate theme chosen for the event. After returning to shore, the gang set off for the after party at Doc’s, complete with pirate poetry and a costume contest. You can find more swashbuckling scenes in our photo gallery on Page 5, and in our video section on our website. / Alex Kurial photo 1122 LENORA ROAD
$1,702,900
NEW LISTING
Thirty new homes are needed to satisfy the demand for people currently looking to rent on Bowen Island, according to estimates from the Housing Advisory Committee (HAC). And that number is a low estimate, the group adds. Anecdotally speaking they say this is likely a minimum, a position backed up by conversations in the community and posts on local online groups which show many people are currently looking for a place to rent. By 2026 they estimate the number of necessary new units to grow to 45, jumping to 60 by 2030. The rental topic is top of the list on the group’s Housing Targets Report (HTR), which identifies eight areas of recommendation to address various housing issues on Bowen. Robyn Fenton, HAC chair, told council May 9 that along with temporary worker housing, these are the two most pressing areas in the report. A pilot project underway in Ucluelet which involves loosening the rules around living in RV’s or trailers is being investigated to address the temporary worker issue. As for rentals, the demand is immediate but the supply is not. This isn’t a new problem either. Much of the HAC’s report was guided by a 2020 Housing Needs Report (HNR), which outlined similar issues back in 2016. The Undercurrent ran a story that year which highlighted 26 people competing for one rental unit. This year, in conversations HAC had with Rob Purdy, one of the owners of the new apartment complex, he estimated another 30 to 50 apartments could be filled by prospective renters. This number is on top of the 27 units in the current building. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
973 CAPTAIN CATES WALK $1,598,000
1601 JOAN AUDREY LANE $799,000
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FRAZER ELLIOTT Realtor®
Bowen’s Top Producing REALTOR® for 2021* *based on reported MLS sales
604.910.3401
felliottbowen@gmail.com | bowenhomes.ca Specializing in BOWEN ISLAND and HOWE SOUND
2020-2021
Top 10% of Realtors in the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver