The City of Victoria has agreed to re-open Burnside School and create affordable rental housing in a new partnership with the Greater Victoria School District 61 and Pacifica Housing Society.
The 88-unit development on the property will be geared toward moderate income families with two and three bedroom units.
The former Burnside Elementary School building itself will undergo major upgrades and will re-open as an educational centre for staff and students currently at S.J. Willis.
“So far what we’re attempting to do is upgrade the building in terms of earthquake readiness and also upgrade it in terms of the quality of classrooms that we’re offering students so that will happen right from the basement to the roof,” said Tom Ferris, the school board’s vice-chair.
The project will also add new childcare spaces to the region.
“This delivers affordable housing and that is a beautiful old school and it’s just been sitting there and this deal will allow all of those things to be addressed,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps.
The city says the next step is designing the site before it goes to council.
There’s no construction date set, but Helps says the city wants to move ahead as quickly as possible.
