New 137-unit rental building bringing ‘deeply affordable’ homes to Esquimalt

New 137-unit rental building bringing 'deeply affordable' homes to Esquimalt
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
Sitting six storeys high, the 137-unit building on Fleming Street will have a mix of unit sizes.

Shovels are in the ground and construction is now underway on new rental housing bringing hundreds of homes to Esquimalt, including “deeply affordable” units.

Sitting six storeys high, the 137-unit building on Fleming Street will have a mix of unit sizes, including five three-bedroom and six four-bedroom units, the Government of Canada said in a news release.

Rent for 68 homes will be geared to income and set at 30 per cent of the tenant’s gross income, with 28 units seeing rents start at $375 for a studio and $715 for a four-bedroom.

The development, which replaces the former building that sat on the property, will also include seven fully wheelchair-accessible units, according to the government.

“All tenants who occupied the original building were relocated to other housing in the community with financial assistance and will have the right of first refusal to rent in the new building,” states the release.

The Greater Victoria Housing Society says the former building was “well past” its effective life with only one elevator servicing all tenants.

On Wednesday, government officials, including Canada’s Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen, announced nearly $22 million in funding for the project.

The federal government is contributing $6.4 million while the province, through BC Housing, is providing a grant of around $14.5 million.

Lapis Homes donated $60,000, and Vancity Savings Credit Union provided $19,500 in seed funding plus a pre-development seed loan of $350,000.

Hussen says the project will play a “vital role” in providing housing options for those in need.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home,” he said.

Meanwhile, Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins says new housing is needed now more than ever, especially with the lack of locally available three- and four-bedroom units.

“We are so thrilled to offer homes for families of different sizes,” added Desjardins. “This development is close to schools, the Lions Little League Park, our community garden, the Gorge Waterway, and local businesses.”

Tenants are expected to start moving into their new homes in early summer 2024.

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Ethan MorneauEthan Morneau

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