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Lions get $10.4M for Greenecourt

The Lions Housing Society is getting $10.4 million in provincial money for the next phase of the Greenecourt project in Sechelt.
Greenecourt
Proposed Greenecourt extension as seen from Hackett Park.

The Lions Housing Society is getting $10.4 million in provincial money for the next phase of the Greenecourt project in Sechelt.

The funding for the 104-unit apartment building was confirmed in a release from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Nov. 13, along with funding for about 4,800 other units in 41 other communities.

The money is coming from the Building BC: Community Housing Fund.

“These new, affordable rental homes are an important step toward addressing the housing crisis and giving families in every part of the province a break from skyrocketing housing costs,” said Premier John Horgan.

Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons said he was pleased to see the government moving forward on its housing promises.

The new five-storey building at Greene­court will replace the remaining bungalow units, and when combined with the 65-unit Jack Nelson Building and two other buildings in the Greenecourt complex (Orca and Sandpiper), it would give the Lions a total of 215 units at the property on Ocean Avenue and Medusa Street.

The Lions’ partnership with BC Housing calls for a housing mix of 20 per cent low income, subsidized; 50 per cent with rent geared to income; and 30 per cent at “affordable” market rental. The Lions have also entered an agreement with the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living to jointly administer six of the new suites.

Robert Allen, president of the Lions Housing Society, told Coast Reporter they’re excited about having the funding confirmed. “We’re looking forward to getting started [on construction], though it will probably be in late January or early February.”

Allen said as well as needing to wait for final approvals from the District of Sechelt, the Society has to get the final design details completed.

Sechelt Mayor Darnelda Siegers said the announcement is “great news for the Lions Housing Society and for the District of Sechelt. This project is very much needed and community support has consistently been positive for it.”

The zoning and Official Community Plan amendments needed from Sechelt council for the project are sitting at third reading.

“We anticipate it will come back for adoption in December once the conditions of adoption have been completed,” Siegers said.

Allen estimates that once shovels hit the ground, it will take about a year to have the building ready for tenants to move in.