Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Housing project

Housing project criticized by Chilliwack elected officials for multiple delays moves forward

Mar 25, 2025 | 10:26 AM

CHILLIWACK — A supportive housing project just west of Young Road that was criticized for its repeated delays by a Chilliwack councillor is moving forward.

Despite repeated delays that have sidelined its projected opening dates on multiple occasions, a spokesperson for B.C. Housing now says the 91-unit/bed building at 45857 Trethewey Avenue is now slated to open this fall.

According to an email from a spokesperson last week, BC Housing says the modular housing development experienced delays due to the bankruptcy of the original construction contractor, in October 2023, when construction was approximately 60 per cent done.

“Since then, BC Housing has secured a new contractor and sub-trades to address remediation and construction has resumed,” the Crown agency wrote in a statement to Fraser Valley Today. “The anticipated opening is now scheduled for Fall 2025. BC Housing continues to work diligently to ensure the project progresses.”

The project features 49 supportive housing units, including 22 designated for complex care housing services, and 42 shelter beds. It will be operated by Phoenix Housing Society.

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Back in September 2023, Tim Chamberlin, senior communications advisor for BC Housing, said the new supportive housing building and shelter at 45857 Trethewey Avenue was projected to open in spring 2024.

It previously had an opening date of fall 2023.

“Construction was initially expected to complete this past summer but it experienced a delay due to supply chain issues, including a delay of critical electrical components,” Chamberlin wrote in his September 2023 email to Fraser Valley Today.

During a council meeting in September 2024, upon hearing that the project had been delayed once again and was slated to open in spring 2025, Councillor Bud Mercer said the delays constitute “an embarrassment” for the provincial government.

“It’s been mishandled since day one,” Mercer said. “It’s becoming an eyesore, and it’s going to continue to cost the taxpayers even more money as it lags. The province sits in a cesspool of bureaucracy.”

Mayor Ken Popove similarly criticized the provincial government for insisting that the City of Chilliwack build a thousand housing units a year when it couldn’t seem to finish a project. During a radio segment on 89.5 JR Country in November 2024, Popove was speaking about damage to a public restroom primarily used by street people, and expressed frustration over the lack of housing for unhoused Chilliwack residents.

“The province has gotta get their crap together and start creating more housing,” Popove said. “We have a project that’s almost 3 years behind and they’re putting targets on us to build a thousand houses a year. You guys gotta get your crap together and look after your own stuff that you’ve set in motion. It’s frustrating.”

In December 2024, Councillor Chris Kloot said the City of Chilliwack has been a partner with the province by waiving $2.7 million in development cost charges for four housing developments, money that could have been used for municipal infrastructure projects.

“No one is excited about that persistent and challenging inflationary environment that we are in. No one is excited about the constant downloading by the federal and provincial government to local governments,” Kloot said. “For me, it’s not lost that once again we are coming forward with another substantial tax increase for the taxpayers in our community. I’m uncomfortable with it. Time and again, the City steps forward making meaningful steps to assist the provincial government in helping to secure housing for those in need, and I think in the last three years, there’s been a forgiving of $2.7 million in development cost charge waivers on 4 housing projects. Two are complete, one is under construction and one has yet to begin construction. And yet, it’s not nearly enough housing or supports.”

Chilliwack City Council approved the issuance of a development permit for four properties on Rowat Avenue and one property on Trethewey Avenue, about one block west of Shandhar Hut, at its meeting on August 16, 2022, for the purpose of building this supportive housing development.