A property in Port Coquitlam that was the city's historical downtown will one day be a neighbourhood of up to 500 or more affordable rental homes.
Affordable Housing Societies confirms it's building 300 units of non-market housing at the corner of Gately and Kingsway avenues in a project called Westminster Junction and will also add more units to neighbouring River Woods.
Stephen Bennett, the organization's CEO, told the Tri-City News that plans are in the works to redevelop the 1980s era River Woods and add density.
There are currently 111 rental units available for low and moderate income families, but that number could double or more, depending on future plans and City of Port Coquitlam's expectations and approvals.
"We haven't modelled it out yet," Bennett said, noting the city may want retain frontage on Kingsway Avenue.
But he said efforts are being made to prevent upheaval of existing River Woods residents who will move into units at the new Westminster Junction at existing rents when construction is complete.
"We are not in the business of making people homeless," said Bennett, who said the first building of the new Westminster Junction project could be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2024, depending on permit approvals and construction timelines.
The full build out of the project could take a few more years and will be located in what was previously the city's downtown.
Port Coquitlam history commemorated
Each building will be named after historical people or buildings, in recognition of the site’s history and in consultation with the Port Coquitlam Heritage and Cultural Society.
The Rowland will be named for a former CPR agent who ran the station that was previously located across from the development and built shops on the current site.
The Myrtle will be named after a local hotel, and the Ticehurst after the owner of a popular café.
Bennett said the addition of heritage attributes is welcome and there will be heritage photography "to make sure people remember."
"The historical society reached out to us about the historical context and we had a dialogue with them. We thought that sounded like an awesome name," Bennett said of the Westminster Junction moniker.
A history in the Tri-Cities
The Affordable Housing Societies is not new to the Tri-Cities or the Lower Mainland where it operates 3,639 units in 62 affordable housing projects in 13 municipalities.
In Coquitlam, it is in the midst of constructing 164 units of affordable housing across from Lafarge Lake.
The six-storey apartment complex at 3100 Ozada Ave., called Robert Nicklin Place, will have 164 non-market homes where previously there were 57 non-market units.
Bennett said housing was found for residents during construction and the new building should be complete in March 2024.
Back in Port Coquitlam, Bennett said the development yet to break ground at Kingsway and Gately is awaiting permits. But he said it was a unique confluence of events that led to the project even being considered.
Non-profit 'lucky' to acquire the land
"If I'm being brutally honest, we were pretty lucky," said Bennett.
A development company, Peak Towers Development, originally purchased the land but agreed to rezone then sell it for the contract to oversee construction of the 300-unit project and child care space.
"The developer had a heart," Bennett acknowledged.
Edge Construction will build the housing with Peak managing it, Bennett explained.
As for move-in dates and waiting lists, Bennett said it's too early to say when Affordable Housing Societies will accept applications, although it's usually one year out from completion.
However, he said a banner will be placed on the construction hoarding when and where applications for rental housing can be sent in to the society.
