Whistler council has provisionally endorsed the next phase of employee housing in Cheakamus Crossing, advancing plans for 125 new rental homes aimed at providing local workers with secure, affordable housing.
At its Feb. 25 meeting, council reviewed the project plan for Lot 3 in Cheakamus Crossing Phase Two, which includes a five-storey apartment building with 105 units and 20 three-bedroom townhomes. The development, located at 1600 Mount Fee Road, is part of the municipality’s broader strategy to expand affordable employee housing in Whistler, addressing the ongoing challenges of limited and costly rental options.
Meeting local demand
The Lot 3 development is tailored to Whistler’s workforce, offering a range of unit sizes based on demand from the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) waitlist and recent housing needs studies. Plans include a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, as well as townhomes for families.
Rents in the apartment building are expected to follow rent-geared-to-income formulas, while the townhomes will use a different affordability model, set at 30 per cent of household income for families in the 75th percentile of B.C. incomes. John Chapman, the Resort Municipality of Whistler's (RMOW) manager of planning projects, said this approach aims to provide more affordable options compared to current market rates in Whistler, where similar homes have been advertised between $7,000 and $7,700 per month in recent years, according to WHA data.
Housing remains one of Whistler council’s top priorities, as outlined in its 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, which set a goal to complete three major employee housing projects—Lots 2, 3 and 5 in Cheakamus Crossing Phase 2—by 2026. With Lot 2 already finished and fully occupied, and Lot 5 under construction with completion expected in early 2026, the Lot 3 project is the final piece of that commitment.
Funding the gap
The estimated cost of the Lot 3 project is $62 million, encompassing land and construction expenses. Funding this initiative will require about $16.1 million in equity, sourced from:
- $3 million from WHA surplus funds;
- $5.9 million from RMOW reserves;
- $7.2 million in anticipated grants from senior levels of government.
Staff have identified potential risks, including inflation, rising interest rates, level of demand for new housing, and supply chain disruptions, such as new tariffs on building materials.
"We’ve also added a recommendation to return to council to update on any cost inflation,” Chapman said, emphasizing that any cost increase of 10 per cent or more before construction starts will prompt another review.
What happens next
With council’s provisional endorsement, the next steps involve securing grant funding, finalizing the financing strategy, and updating the municipality’s K-01 employee housing policy to reflect the project’s rental framework. Staff also plan to introduce a housing agreement setting rental rates and eligibility criteria.
If all proceeds as planned, construction could begin as early as summer 2025, with the first residents moving in by early 2028.
Council members expressed optimism about the progress, highlighting the municipality’s substantial investment in employee housing.
“We're looking at, in four years, over 400 units and $160 million invested in housing by three organizations in this community. I think that is something to celebrate,” said Councillor Jen Ford.
Coun. Ralph Forsyth agreed, adding, "I think it's the essence of community building that is at the heart of the policy decisions we make. And I think we're honouring our commitment to the community to build as much housing as we can, as affordably as we can, for the benefit of everyone.”
