STATUS
Complete
LOCATION
Nelson
REGION
Interior
CLIENT
City of Nelson
PROJECT TEAM
Turner Drake and Partners
MDS SERVICES PROVIDED
Housing needs assessment
Growth analysis and strategies
Engagement and facilitation
COMPLETION DATE
October 2024
PROJECT DELIVERABLE
City of Nelson Housing Needs Report 2024
As part of their Official Community Plan update process, the City of Nelson chose to go above and beyond Provincial requirements and complete a full Housing Needs Report update in 2024, bypassing the interim report. MDS and Turner Drake were engaged to complete the work in partnership with staff and local housing stakeholders.
The report involved a detailed analysis of population and household trends, housing supply and condition, rental and ownership markets, affordability, and housing stability. Engagement with local service providers and community organizations helped ground the findings in local experience and highlighted pressures related to low vacancy rates, rising housing costs, and limited housing choice across the community.
Findings in the report highlight the potential for dramatic growth in Nelson and have kick-started the development of three multi-family affordable housing developments, one specific to workforce housing.
The final report was presented to Mayor and Council in October 2024. It meets all the criteria required for interim reports and includes additional collection and reporting to meet the requirements for full reports. As one of the first full reports completed under new legislation, the City of Nelson was able to access new Census data, affordability projections, and creative analysis on market and non-market need.
