Residents of the Triway Mobile Home Park are still in limbo, as the Capital Regional District’s new affordable housing building opens in Langford.
The province is touting the project as a success in creating affordable housing, but some residents are still concerned they’ll have nowhere to go if they are forced to vacate the park more than three years after the project was announced.
The five-storey wood-framed building at 2782 Spencer Rd. cost $19.9-million and contains 58 units for lower-income people, targetting seniors, families and individuals, including those with accessibility needs.
Eleven units will rent at a subsidized rate of $375 a month.
READ MORE: Langford mobile park residents waiting for answers about their future homes
READ MORE: Construction begins on housing project overlapping Langford mobile home park
Toni Stevenson has lived in the park for 17 years and is one of those remaining in the park that’s uncertain about her future. She doesn’t use email, so often feels out of the loop with new developments.
“It’s basically been up in the air for four years … every once in a while you’ll get something that seems promising and then it just disappears and you’re left wondering what the hell is going on again.”
Stevenson said moving into the new building didn’t appeal to her because she’d have less space for her and her roommate. Looking around at the current housing market, Stevenson says her pension wouldn’t be able to afford anywhere else.
Jamie Gripich, spokesperson for Capital Regional Housing Corporation, said the CRHC expects the building will be fully tenanted by April 1, but couldn’t say how many residents had moved into the building from TriWay due to privacy concerns.
Stevenson said the residents that were the loudest in bringing their concerns forward got into the CRHC building. Now those who are left are worried about the condition the park is in, and if they’ll be asked to leave.
Devon Properties, the company contracted by Starlight to do maintenance on the park, have been found lacking, according to Stevenson.
“Through our partnership with the Capital Region Housing Commission, we continue to work closely with the park’s mobile residents to ensure they are able to find safe housing options,” a spokesperson for Starlight said. “Devon Properties, our property manager for Triway Park, has done an admirable job of addressing any issues in the park in a timely and efficient manner while we work together with remaining residents.”
Residents are set to have a meeting with the park management next week on March 2, where they might get more clarity on the future of the park.
ALSO READ: B.C. announces 71 new ‘affordable,’ supportive housing units open in Victoria
@moreton_bailey
bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.