VICTORIA – The City of Victoria has exceeded housing targets set by the provincial government in half the time allotted.
In September 2023, the Province set housing objectives for 10 B.C. municipalities, including Victoria, which was given a target of 4,902 homes over five years. This goal aligns closely with targets already set by the City through its Victoria Housing Strategy.
Victoria’s quota of 659 new housing units for year one was exceeded when 753 new homes were created in the first six months. During that time, the City also issued 316 building permits and approved 1,628 homes for rezoning.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment for Victoria to reach this target so quickly,” said Mayor Marianne Alto. “Meeting the mark well before the deadline set by the Province demonstrates that urgently needed housing can be fast-tracked when local governments lean in to the effort. Our city is pulling its weight in addressing the housing crisis while City staff continue to propose innovative, forward-thinking policies and new ideas.”
Victoria is now 15 per cent of the way towards meeting the Province’s five-year target.
“It takes collaboration and collective action to create the homes Victoria needs,” said Kathy Whitcher, Executive Director of the Urban Development Institute for the Capital Region. “The City’s commitment to understanding developers’ needs and finding solutions for development obstacles exemplifies a proactive approach to addressing our housing challenges.”
Housing is also a key priority as the City undertakes a 10-year update to the Official Community Plan (OCP); a critical, guiding force for the City’s future.
“The City’s progress toward meeting these five-year housing targets is a great foundation to build upon as we contemplate Victoria’s future,” said Lauren Klose, Manager of Community Planning at the City of Victoria. “Ensuring the city has a range of livable housing options for the next 20 years and beyond is at the core of the OCP update.”
Engagement on the 10-year OCP update continues until September 2024. Residents are encouraged to take the OCP survey at engage.victoria.ca/ocp.
Source: City of Victoria