- What Two new government housing projects in Victoria, B.C., are starting construction
- Why The provincial government is spending $100m on the developments
- What next They are expecting to bring almost 300 rental units to Victoria
The British Columbia government is providing $100m to bankroll the construction of two purpose-built rental and supportive housing developments in Victoria.
Funding for the projects is part of the $19bn invested in housing by the province since 2017. Together, the buildings will provide 295 rental or supportive housing units, BC Housing said.
The developments comprise a 21-storey building at 926 and 930 Pandora Avenue and an eight-storey building at 726 Discovery Street .
The Pandora site, occupied by vacant buildings, will have a combination of 158 affordable rental homes and 47 supportive housing units. Child care services and a community space will also be included. The project will be finished in 2029.
The Discovery Street project will provide 90 units of supportive housing. It is under construction and is expected to finish in 2027.
The projects are a partnership between BC Housing, the city, the province and the Capital Region Housing Corporation. The province will also provide $5.3m of annual funding for the operation of 926 and 930 Pandora Avenue and $2.1m of funding for the operation of 726 Discovery Street.
The two developments will account for some of the larger additions of purpose-built rentals in Victoria, along with the 1,500-unit Harris Green Village, being built by Starlight Investments, and Nicola Wealth and Denciti’s 278-unit rental project in Victoria’s Old Town. Both projects are under construction.
