At a council meeting last month, Whistler council endorsed a plan for a new rental housing development at 1600 Mount Fee Road, also known as Lot 3. Councillors endorsed the project plan, moving it one step closer to reality.
The Whistler Development Corporation (WDC) will build the project, while the Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) will take it over from them. Before the project moves forward, council will review the project once financing is secured and grant funding is confirmed.
The development is expected to cost $62.4 million. To help make rents affordable, the council approved a conditional investment of $5.9 million from the employee housing reserve fund. WHA will also contribute $3 million, and the project hopes to receive another g $7.2 million in federal and provincial grants. The remaining costs will be financed.
The project aims to add 125 new rental units, including 20 three-bedroom townhomes and a five-storey apartment building with studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. To increase housing density, the council approved changes to parking requirements, allowing one stall per apartment and two per townhouse, with additional visitor parking.
The Lot 3 project marks the final development phase in the Cheakamus area, following previous projects at 1400 and 1450 Mount Fee Road. Another nearby development, Lot 5, is still under construction and is expected to be completed in early 2026.
Lot 3 could be ready for occupancy by 2028 if all funding is secured. However, municipal staff cautioned that rising construction costs, supply chain uncertainties, and trade tariffs with the United States could impact the project’s budget. Council will receive updates on any financial changes, with more clarity expected by summer 2025.