City of Prince Rupert looks to shake a few home building trees with call for bids on new subdivision plan

The City of Prince Rupert has outlined its plan to add to the
housing stock in Prince Rupert with plans for an 
east side subdivision posted to the BC Bid procurement site
(Photo from City of PR's BC Bid entry)

The City of Prince Rupert is looking to add to the housing stock in the Prince Rupert area, with a new listing in the BC Bid site asking for Expressions of interest in a proposal to develop a subdivision on the city's east side just off of Parker Drive and Silversides.

As part of the introduction to the proposed subdivision, the City observes: 

In order to increase the supply of housing in Prince Rupert, the City intends to make one of the vacant properties that it owns available to the market, but wants to first confirm that there is sufficient interest. If there is sufficient interest, the City plans to proceed with a disposition process. 

Therefore, the City issuing this RFI, whereby developers are being asked to examine the site, indicated whether they are interested in this development opportunity and propose a conceptual design.

The City of Prince Rupert owns the land proposed for the subdivision, a parcel of land that is currently undeveloped and is heavily treed and includes mature coniferous trees and muskeg.

It is designated as Residential in the current Official Community Plan and as R2 Two Family Residential Housing in the Zoning Bylaw.

The City also notes that it will provide a detailed civil engineering study to verify servicing costs at the time of development. The City expects that the cost of accessing and servicing will be shared. The cost breakdown will be developed as part of the negotiated business terms. 

As well the City of Prince Rupert notes that it will not collect Development Cost Charges on this project which results in a reduction in costs associated with the development.  

The Scope of Services related to the site in question includes the following:

The Closing Date for submissions of interest in developing the area for housing is Monday, January 18th, with proposals to be submitted to Paul Venditelli, Manager of Economic Development and Transportation.

Should there be some interest in their proposal, the City hopes to have the entire residential subdivision completed with final occupancy certificates and on the market within 5 years.

The City heads into the New Year and its ambitious notes for potential housing without any dedicated civic planning office in place with the position once held by Zeno Krekic seemingly still vacant, leaving it unknown at this point who will oversee the proposed development planning once Mr. Venditelli has finished receiving the expressions of interest.

Council also did not tip their hand on the proposed search for new housing stock during the course of their final public Council session for 2020 on December 7th, perhaps leaving the announcement for the Mayor's year end greeting plans through his Facebook page.

You can review the full package on the City's call for submissions from the BC Bid website here.

More notes on past Bids for City projects and other needs can be reviewed from our archive page here, while themes on Housing in the region can be examined here.

A wider note of past City Council discussion themes can be explored from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.