The Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) has almost completed its newest rental building in Cheakamus Crossing.
The new building, The Hemlocks, also known as 1450 Mount Fee Road, has been under construction since mid-2023.
The build will add 48 units to the WHA’s rental pool in a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.
Occupants are expected to be able to move in by October this year, with rental rates set at 30 per cent of gross household income starting at $1,450 per month for a studio, $1,850 for a one-bedroom and $2,425 for a two-bedroom.
According to a release from the WHA, prospective tenants on the waitlist can register their interest in the building now.
Among other developments for the WHA, the authority is moving ahead with the construction of an additional 104 employee rental units at 1475 Mount Fee Road, which has an expected completion date in mid-2026.
The WHA also announced changes to its waitlist rules, with Whistler employees on the path to permanent residency in Canada now qualified to apply under a pilot program.
“This initiative aims to reduce housing wait times for Whistler’s existing and dedicated workforce, fostering housing stability and affordability for employees who are seeking to make Whistler the place to call their long-term home,” reads a WHA press release, which said waitlist applications will be considered under the pilot starting in June.
Finally, the WHA also has new home ownership inventory coming on the market in Nordic, with 14 price-restricted, three-bedroom townhomes on the way.
According to the WHA release, the townhomes, which are currently under construction, are available for submissions of interest from WHA buyer waitlist members from June 2024. Presales will commence in August, with completion dates scheduled between November this year, and January 2025.
General manager of the WHA, Marla Zucht, said the three developments underscore both the housing authority and municipality's commitment to addressing housing needs in the community.
"By delivering new employee-restricted rental and ownership options, and expanding waitlist access to a greater segment of Whistler’s valuable workforce, we are providing more housing opportunities that support and enable our employees to thrive and reside permanently in Whistler,” she said.
Read more at whistlerhousing.ca.
