New apartment construction in Esquimalt to include 'deeply affordable' units
Construction is underway on 137 new rental suites for low- and middle-income residents in Esquimalt, B.C.
The federal and provincial housing ministers joined Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins Wednesday to announce more than $20 million in funding for the project at 874 Fleming St.
The six-storey, wood-frame building will include five three-bedroom and six four-bedroom units to accommodate families, according to a release Wednesday from the federal Ministry of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.
The development also includes seven studio units that are fully wheelchair accessible.
The new build replaces an existing apartment building on the site. The federal government says all tenants of the original building were relocated to other housing in the community and will have the right of first refusal to rent in the new building.
The federal government is contributing $6.4 million for the new build while the province is kicking in $14.5 million.
Developer Lapis Homes donated $60,000 and Vancity Savings Credit Union provided $19,500 in seed funding and a predevelopment seed loan of $350,000, according to a statement Wednesday from the federal Ministry of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.
Once complete, the building will be operated by the Greater Victoria Housing Society.
28 'DEEPLY AFFORDABLE' UNITS
"Our government is dedicated to helping those in need, which is why we are proud to invest in the redevelopment of this apartment complex in Esquimalt," said federal Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen.
"With nearly 140 units to support families, this project will play a vital role in providing housing options for those in need in the community."
Esquimalt-Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean said the new build will "better meet the needs" of Esquimalt residents when tenants return in summer 2024.
The rental price for 68 of the units will be set at 30 per cent of the tenant's gross income. The federal government says 28 of the units will be "deeply affordable," with rents starting at $375 for a studio and $715 for a four-bedroom suite.
Correction
A previous version of this story identified Mitzi Dean as B.C.'s Housing Minister. In fact, she is the Minister of Children and Family Development.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.