An 87-unit affordable rental housing project for families, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities officially opened in Parksville on Tuesday.
The first residents are moving into the building, which is geared for tenants with low to moderate incomes.
Located at 360 and 364 Moilliet St., the development includes eight three-bedroom townhomes, with another 79 apartments a mix of one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom units.
Close to downtown Parksville, the building is within walking distance of grocery stores, parks, health-care services and schools.
For 60 of the units, rent will be set at 30 per cent of household income. Seventeen of those units are reserved for residents with very low incomes, such as those receiving income or disability assistance.
The remaining 27 units will be rented at market rates, starting at $1,360 for a one-bedroom unit, $1,487 for a one-bedroom-plus-den unit, $1,742 for a two-bedroom unit, and $2,422 for a three-bedroom townhome.
Ballenas Housing Society is the owner and operator of the building and has an office on site. Andrea Blakeman, Ballenas chief executive, said this is the society’s first facility in Parksville.
“These new homes provide quality housing for a variety of families while also benefiting returning Parksville residents unable to afford housing until now,” said Parksville Mayor Doug O’Brien.
Three levels of government are investing about $30 million in the project.
Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker said in a statement that the units represent the first provincially subsidized rental homes to be built in Parksville “in many years.”
The province provided about $9.5 million for the project, with another $582,000 for annual operating costs. The federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. put in about $750,000 in grant money and $19 million in financing.
The City of Parksville and Regional District of Nanaimo waived fees totalling $725,000.
