Category Archives: Housing

Business, Housing

The Cortes Island Wood Makerspace

Cortes Island’s dream of having a makerspace has become a reality. The Cortes Wood Makerspace is being set up in the Orchard Village Shop, 671 Sutil Point Rd, Mansons Landing.

“This idea has been around for a long time. I have heard people talking about it for at least 15 years and some old timers apparently remember even longer. We have lots of people who are woodworkers  or building their own homes and not everyone has to build a shop for themselves and equip it with machinery,” explained Hannu Huuskonen, the Shop Master. 

Continue reading The Cortes Island Wood Makerspace →
Development, Housing

Construction coming to the (Many) Common Areas of Mansons Landing

Close to 50 people turned up at Mansons Hall on January 24, for an update on the construction coming or already underway in the downtown Mansons area. The Cortes Housing Society, Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA), Cortes Island Community Foundation and Cortes Island Pickleball Society were on hand to describe what’s taking place at Rainbow Ridge, the multipurpose courts and the Village Commons. 

 Regional Director Mark Vonesch exclaimed, “The big news here on Cortes is that the Housing Society is going to start building houses this year.” 

Sandra Wood, who’s been at the heart of the Rainbow Ridge affordable housing project from the beginning, added, “It’s exciting to finally get shovels in the ground. We feel like we’ve been shovel ready for years.”   

Manda Aufochs Gillespie, from the Cortes Island Foundation, described another focus of the meeting “More and more, it’s clear that the Village Commons is really this whole area and all the things that we gather in the heart of Mansons to do.”

Continue reading Construction coming to the (Many) Common Areas of Mansons Landing →
Housing

Short Term Rentals must be registered by May 1, 2025

There are approximately 100 short term rentals, collectively earning between $1 million and $1.5 million* a year, on Cortes Island. At of the end of 2021, there were 177 on Quadra.  As of May 1st, all  Airbnbs and short-term rentals in BC have to register with the provincial government.

 “It’s a process where the provincial government is asking short term rental operators and short term rental platform operators to register. Then they’re going to cross reference  and use that as a way to regulate Airbnbs,” explained Mark Vonesch, Regional Director for Cortes Island (Area B).

Continue reading Short Term Rentals must be registered by May 1, 2025 →
Housing

The Cortes Housing Society looks back to things accomplished in 2024 and what’s ahead in 2025

The Cortes Community Housing Society will soon break ground on Rainbow Ridge. They are also renting out two houses, are about to explore the possibility of a tiny house village, and hope to launch a homeshare program this summer. There is also news about the aquifer study, more online housing forums, the Cortes Island Trade Directory and Cortes Island’s vacant homes.

“2024 was a banner year for us in many ways,” exclaimed Executive Director Sadhu Johnston.

Bruin Black, the Society’s new Project Manager, added,  “This year is going to be a big year in terms of things happening. I’m just excited to see how things unfold.”

Continue reading The Cortes Housing Society looks back to things accomplished in 2024 and what’s ahead in 2025 →
Housing

Residential Upzone Proposal for Cortes Island

By Carrie Saxifrage

We are lucky to have impressive work toward affordable housing by our  Regional Director Mark Vonesch, Cortes Island Housing Society Executive Director Sadhu Johnston, Cortes Foundation  Executive Director Manda Aufochs Gillespie, Cortes Community Economic Development Association ​​Economic Development Officer Kate Maddigan, donors who make all this possible and everyone else helping the community as a whole. Also, the 2002 bylaws have worked really well for us, especially the foresight regarding forest zones. Thanks to those who engaged in that process. I hope, if you have thoughts about the proposed revision, you will let the SRD know. 

Continue reading Residential Upzone Proposal for Cortes Island →