The City of Grand Forks and the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) have reached an agreement to provide much-needed housing through the relocation of homes currently located within the floodplain restoration area in North Ruckle.
Under the agreement, up to 10 houses will be moved and another 10 modular houses constructed in three potential areas.
The Osoyoos Indian Band has agreed to lead the house moving and land development for the three potential building sites. The OIB will move the houses from their current location within the floodplain restoration area, set them on new foundations, and undertake any necessary repairs or updates.
The OIB’s Development Corporation has the skills and financial capacity to lead the development without financial risk for the City.
The City’s Flood Mitigation Program is aimed at protecting Grand Forks homes, businesses, and infrastructure from devastating spring floods, like the 2018 flood that damaged over 400 homes and destroyed another 50.
That flood resulted in two class action lawsuits in B.C. Supreme Court alleging provincial government forestry mismanagement and negligent logging resulted in “increased frequency, duration and magnitude of major flooding events.”
Over $50 million in federal and provincial grant funding has been provided to Grand Forks in order to create an extensive network of dikes, flood walls, floodplains, and engineered stormwater management systems.
As part of this program, houses within the floodplain restoration area and in the dike alignment were acquired from their owners. A few were damaged beyond repair and will be sold off, salvaged or demolished, however a number of these houses are still in good condition, which led to the agreement with OIB.
“The 2018 flood was like nothing Grand Forks has seen in its history, and brought tremendous destruction and upheaval for residents. We are also facing a serious housing crisis,” said Mayor Brian Taylor.
“Saving some of these homes from the flood plain area is a silver lining, and we are very grateful to the Osoyoos Indian Band for making this opportunity a reality. We really value the relationship the City is developing with OIB and look forward to continuing it.”
OIB Chief Clarence Louie commented: “The Osoyoos Indian Band has developed a good business relationship with the City of Grand Forks. We look forward to developing this housing project which sits on the Osoyoos Indian Band’s traditional territory.”
Up to 10 houses were identified as candidates for relocation from the homes located within the North Ruckle floodplain area. The cost to move, create a foundation, and undertake necessary repairs and updates (such as roofs, appliances, plumbing, and heating) was a factor and cost-prohibitive for many of the larger and smaller houses.
Once the houses are moved, repaired, and connected to services, they will be offered for sale to the public. Any of the City’s net revenue from this shared partnership will be returned to the Flood Mitigation Program.
“Housing is a foundation to thriving communities, and creative solutions to our housing challenges are always exciting to me,” said Roly Russell MLA.
“This partnership between the Osoyoos Indian Band and the City of Grand Forks is a great example of an environmental, social, and economic win: recycle-reuse writ large, adding rapid housing solutions, building community partnerships, and increasing local economic activity. All that means our local people win — congratulations to everyone involved with this innovative project,” he added.
The City of Grand Forks says the Flood Mitigation Program will protect core neighbourhoods from future floods like the one experienced in spring 2018. The city is constructing protective works such as dikes, flood walls, and rip rap, and restoring the North Ruckle floodplain to provide room for the river during future flood events.
Funding has been provided through a $20 million federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) grant, a $31.5 million provincial grant, and $3.5 million in City of Grand Forks funding. Work is expected to be completed in 2023.
