Squamish to Pemberton Home Relocation Case Study

Whistler to Pemberton Road Move, 2022 (Nickel Bros)

Results presented to Synergy Foundation (received on behalf of Resort Municipality of Whistler) by Cassidy v. Ros

This 1024 sq.ft. wood framed house was slated for removal after the lot was purchased to be redeveloped. While the new owners were eager to begin building their new home, they recognized that the existing structure was not a teardown and had more life to offer elsewhere. The 1970s house was constructed with beautiful cedar finishes that would be difficult and expensive to re-create in today’s market. In partnership with Nickel Bros and Cayoosh construction, they began their journey of having the home removed and relocated for continued use in another location.

Structure size: 1024 sq.ft.

Kms moved: 34kms

Carbon emissions of truck used for relocation: Approx. 275.06 kgs (based on averages: https://business.edf.org/insights/green-freight-math-how-to-calculate-emissions-for-a-truck-move/#:~:text=The%20average%20freight%20truck%20in,total%20grams%20into%20metric%20tons)

40,000 kg CO2e preserved in existing structure

56,181 kg CO2e saved by not building another structure using new materials

51,200 kgs waste diverted from landfill

62 trees saved / equivalent to 103 years of one person’s paper use

70 trees saved on not building another structure / equivalent to 116 years of one person’s paper use

Cost context:

To relocate a home, costs are dispersed between the person seeking removal, and the person seeking housing.

The person seeking removal from the original property pays an average of $5000 - $10,000. Homes being relocated do not require the same abatement of HAZMAT that demolitions do, and therefore offer cost savings in that respect as well.

The person seeking housing pays an average of $120 per sq. ft.

Currently, the cost of demolition ranges from $20,000 - $50,000.

The cost to build in Whistler is now well exceeding $800 per sq. ft.

Because the clients on this project were responsible for costs on both sides, savings for both the demolition and new build were calculated together:

Total cost savings on this project: $290,000

Restrictions:

Homes must be able to reach water in Squamish, or be moved within their original region. This presents significant opportunities for homes to be moved into local Indigenous communities, as well as to be utilized by affordable housing organizations in the area. (See San Juan Housing Trust for example: https://www.hometrust.org/)

Note:

Due to the mamquam pedestrian bridge, we are restricted to the following building heights going into Squamish:

Southbound Hwy 99 - 15.9 feet high not including foundation (home only, unloaded)

Northbound Hwy 99 - 15 feet high not including foundation (home only, unloaded)

Move corridors should be considered throughout community planning / development. Utilities wires, overpasses, pedestrian bridges, etc. should all be set at a height of 21’ or higher.