Victoria the only city to pass B.C. home-building target so far

Under the province’s new housing targets, Victoria was tasked with creating 659 new units within the first year. It has hit 753 in six months.

Under the province’s new housing targets, Victoria was tasked with creating 659 new units within the first year.

“We hit 753, which is more than what we were expected to get, and we did it in six months, which was fantastic,” said Marianne Alto, the mayor of Victoria.

Out of the 10 municipalities given housing targets by the province last September, the capital city is the only one to have reported exceeding its goal so far.

The 10 cities are required to present a progress report to council six months into the program.

“Some of them have been in the works for awhile, but some of them are newer,” said Alto.

When measuring cities’ progress, the province counts completed units that have been granted an occupancy permit, not new starts that began since the Housing Supply Act was announced a little over a year ago.

Casey Edge, executive director of the Victoria Home Builders Association says counting completed units “doesn’t really mean anything.”