Another 68 units of affordable housing have been approved for Gorge Road.
After a low-key public hearing on Thursday, Victoria council unanimously approved a rezoning application by the Greater Victoria Housing Society and the Greater Victoria Rental Development Society to transform the site of the 40-unit Friendly Inn, at 35-39 Gorge Rd. E., into affordable housing units.
Only three people - all proponents - spoke at the hearing.
The two agencies will partner to build a fourstorey, 68-unit apartment building and five townhouses on the site.
The apartments will be a mix of studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom and den and two-bedroom units, with some below market and some at market rates.
The complex will be located beside Loreen Place, the Greater Victoria Housing Society's new 52-unit affordable rental complex at 21 Gorge Rd. E.
When first proposed, some concerns were expressed about the massing of the two projects side by side along Gorge Road.
But that wasn't an issue at the public hearing, said Coun. Chris Coleman.
"It seemed to be a good mix with the five townhouses," he said.
Victoria councillors have also supported providing a $680,000 grant to the project.
