Monday - Nov. 18, 2024 - Three building projects proposed for Mission

🌧 High 5C

Good morning!

We're working on a story about the commercial real estate market in the Fraser Valley's downtowns. Not to be too cryptic, but we’re seeing some commonalities and trends and I’m hoping to chat with anyone who might know—or think they know—what's going on. If you have some thoughts on the matter, give me a shout. I’d love to hear from you.

– Tyler

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Traffic & Weather

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope (We have had to temporarily change our forecast links to the Weather Network due to a technical error.)

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NEWS

APD trials private healthcare for prisoners

Ongoing emergency room delays at Abbotsford Regional Hospital have prompted the city’s police department to turn to a private health company to handle basic medical needs for jail prisoners.

The move is meant to free up police officers who are required to wait with prisoners in the hospital’s emergency department—sometimes for as long as eight hours. But one expert notes that the use of private medical services by public bodies, if it becomes widespread, could further aggravate the issues facing Canada’s health system.

• Today, Tyler writes about why Abbotsford’s police department is now using a private medical company, and what it means for prisoners, officers, and your health system.

Related

Need to Know

⛔ Tyson Road in Chilliwack will be closed overnight, starting at 7pm this evening [City of Chilliwack/Facebook]

🦆 Bird flu has been detected in wetlands from Delta to Chilliwack [Aldergrove Star]

🚓 Abbotsford’s Trethewey Street was closed last Friday after a car spun out of control [Abbotsford News]

👉 A Ukrainian woman shares how she ended up in Mission after twice fleeing war [Mission Record]

🙏 The family of a man who was severely burned in a Chilliwack house fire last week is asking the community for support [Chilliwack Progress]

🔎 Langley Mounties are asking for help to find a missing 33-year-old woman [RCMP]

🍻 A Hope brewery has won its first major beer awards [Hope Standard]

🏠 Abbotsford has built fewer than 60% of the units required by its new housing quota; it’s not alone, as only three communities have met or exceeded BC’s target [CBC]

🐟 Spawning salmon will be released this week in Harrison’s Miami River [Agassiz-Harrison Observer] / We wrote in 2023 about efforts by local environmental groups to improve the river and salmon populations [FVC]

🌟 Transform your future at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Explore diverse opportunities to start or advance your career with over 140 programs at a campus near you.*

🏒 Take the Sports Field and Sports Court Strategy online survey TODAY! Attend a pop up info session on Nov 15 (MRC) and Nov 29 (ARC), 2-5pm.*

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The Agenda

Major building projects proposed in Mission

Three proposed major housing projects will be reviewed by Mission council Monday.

They include a large apartment building along Cedar Street, a 60-unit Cherry Avenue townhome project, and a 41-unit rental apartment building near the downtown core.

The proposed 159-unit apartment complex on Cedar Street would be located in the north end of town south of Laminman Avenue and also have 12 ground-floor commercial units and a daycare. If approved and built, it would be one of the largest apartment projects in the area. To proceed, council must still agree to rezone the property, issue a development permit, and sign a housing agreement. The housing agreement would require 16 of the units be rented at below-market rates. In return, the developer will be allowed to build higher and provide fewer parking spaces than would otherwise be permitted.

The proposed 60-unit townhome project on Cherry Avenue also requires rezoning, although public notification hasn't taken place and the matter won't be formally reviewed by council until a later date. Although more townhomes would provide much-needed homes for young families, the flipside is that many of those kids will need to attend school. The school district has told the city that the development could be expected to be home to between 15 and 30 students, around half of whom might be expected to attend Albert McMahon elementary school. That school is already at capacity and the project would increase the urgency to expand it, the district said. The school district also told the city that it hopes the city will continue to upgrade Cherry Avenue's pedestrian facilities for kids walking to school.

Finally, council is set to review the design of a narrow, four-storey, 41-unit apartment building along Columbia Street just north of downtown. Five units in the building will be rented at below-market rates. Those rates are based on provincial regulations and will limit rents to 30% of an occupant's income. The building's design has also been upgraded since an August council meeting at which the developer was told the proposed structure lacked appealing design elements.

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🗓 Things to do

Christmas concert: The Barra MacNeils share An East Coast Christmas at the Abbotsford Arts Centre tonight at 7:30pm. Tickets are $50. Details online.

Charity shop: Langley's Willowbrook Mall hosts a charity shopping night on Tuesday. Tickets to the event are $20, with proceeds going to charity. Participants will get a Willowbrook gift card after shopping, as well as sips and snacks. Details and tickets online.

Mom movement: UFV in Chilliwack is offering a free postpartum movement workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 19 starting at 1pm. Learn how to incorporate movement into your lifestyle and participate in guided rehabilitation exercises. For more information and to RSVP email Megan Filitrault ([email protected]).

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