Behind the Grind café owner Chris Quinlan’s got his chequebook out, ready to sign on the dotted line to secure housing in the Phoenix Project for his employees through the 2010 Games. He’s planning to sign up for four to eight rooms, with each costing $1,950 up front and $650 a month for 18 months.

While the employees who live in the rooms will pay the monthly rent, committing to the project is an expensive prospect for any small business owner. But the alternative — another season of reduced hours because of lack of staff, or losing workers through the Olympics — isn’t an option.

“We’re ready to go. It’s fantastic,” Quinlan said Tuesday (May 6). He congratulated the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, the owners of the Holborn land near Marketplace and the municipality for all contributing to make the Phoenix temporary housing initiative a viable prospect.

A modular housing supplier has been chosen, a business plan is in place, and Council agreed at Monday’s (May 5) meeting to waive some fees and increase the density of the site to allow for more temporary housing units. All the factors are in place to have units ready for employees on Nov. 1 — if Whistler business owners follow through on their expressed interest in the project with money to make it happen.

Chamber President Louise Lundy said business owners need to express interest and sign up before May 15, and deposits will be due by May 28.

Quinlan is the president of the recently formed Restaurant Association of Whistler and he said the members of the group are committed to stepping up because the local shortage of employee housing is such a massive issue. This winter, Quinlan had staff waiting to come to Whistler that didn’t end up coming because they couldn’t find a place to live.

“I actually cut my hours of operation because of it,” he said.

In addition to meeting the immediate need to house staff for the winter season, securing those rooms will provide local employers an edge to keep staff during the 2010 Games, he said. Quinlan encouraged local employers to “get with it” and sign up for the project.

Pradeep Puri, general manager of the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa, said the hotel needs housing for its staff and he’s prepared to commit to about 10 rooms in the project.

While the hotel hasn’t traditionally offered staff housing, management rented two homes this winter to offer to employees, Puri said. The hotel has recently experienced high turnover, with more staff on the verge of leaving because they can’t find housing or because of skyrocketing rents.

The housing situation will only get worse next winter, and summers are becoming a concern as well, he said. While the business community has supported the Phoenix initiative in principle, now’s the time to cough up the money, he said.

“There’s not one GM in town that can say ‘I’m not worried,’” Puri said. “Right now, show your commitment, pay your deposit and let’s move.”

Kennedy Raine, owner of the Great Glass Elevator, has been lucky so far. The housing crisis hasn’t affected her business aside from adjusting work hours for one employee who lived in Pemberton.

With seemingly fewer and fewer places advertised for rent in the paper each month, she feels it’s only a matter of time. “It’s this dark cloud sort of hanging over my head,” she said.

Raine is crunching the numbers and she’s pretty confident she’ll be able to sign up for two rooms. She said she’s pleased with the plans so far, especially the fact that there’s only one person to a bedroom.

“It’s an awesome location,” she said. “I think it’s going to be good. It’s absolutely needed.”

Out of 24 bids from suppliers, SG Blocks has been chosen to provide modular housing for up to 294 people on the 1.5-acre site at the end of Northlands Boulevard provided by Holborn, Lundy said. SG Blocks specializes in using recycled shipping containers and green building principles.

The site will consist of up to seven three-story buildings, plus a separate laundry facility. Each floor will accommodate 14 people with three or four single-bedroom units sharing a kitchen and bathroom, Lundy said.

The monthly $650 price includes all costs such as furnishings, property management, snow clearing, garbage and recycling, insurance and a contingency fund for damages, she said.

Sponsorship and other funding initiatives are being sourced to bring the cost down and any money left at the end of the project term will be returned to the businesses.

To get your business on the list for temporary employee housing through the 2010 Games, visit www.whistlerchamber.com and click on the Housing Survey link. The survey document provides an overview of the project and questions can be submitted through the survey, Lundy said.

Deposits of $1,950 per room will be required by May 28, and if the project does not go forward the deposits will be returned, she said.