By Steve Hubrecht
The group of local residents planning the Invermere Accessible Living Plaza (IALP) held public engagement sessions on the site of the proposed accessible and affordable housing development last week in downtown Invermere.
The project envisions a four-and-a-half storey mixed-use residential and commercial building on 7th Avenue (Invermere’s main street), very close to the intersection of 7th Avenue and 4th Street (by Sobeys and Columbia Valley Centre) with 47 fully accessible long-term rental units built around an open courtyard, green space and a lobby, with commercial business space on the lower levels.
At least 20 per cent of the rental units will be offered at 20 per cent below market rental rates.
Local residents spearheading the project include Recreation Adapted (RAD) Society founder Tanelle Bolt, Station Pub co-owner Ryan Karl, and Mountain Homes Productions (MHP) co-owner Stephen Raaflaub. (The project also includes several British Columbia-based infrastructure planners and architects.)
On Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, the group was at the site (which is currently a vacant lot) answering questions and presenting project details to curious members of the public and anyone else who happened to be strolling by.
When the Pioneer visited late on May 9, project proponents talked with approximately half a dozen passersby in the space of a half hour. Most of those passersby were hearing about the project for the first time. All seemed enthusiastic about it, and one ended up talking with planner and consultant Kelly Miller for at least 10 minutes.
Miller estimated that roughly 20 people have stopped by the session throughout the afternoon, and all had positive feedback.
Local resident Ray Schnerch was headed down 7th Avenue while the Pioneer was at the session, and stopped to talk with the IALP group.
“I think it’s perfect. It’s exactly what we need,” Schnerch told the Pioneer afterwards.
Shannon Nickerson, also on her way past, had a similar opinion after she too stopped to learn more.
“From what I can tell at first glance, it looks like a great project,” she said.
PHOTO STEVE HUBRECHT
