By 2023, there will be 14 new affordable rental apartments for moderate income seniors in Pender Harbour, according to a Dec. 10 press release from the province.
BC Housing is partnering with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and Pender Harbour Seniors Housing Society (PHSHS) to complete the Lily Lake Place project. The three-storey apartment building will be at 12730 Lagoon Road, near the existing Lily Lake Village housing development.
“I’m excited for what this new building will provide to seniors in Pender Harbour, particularly those who have had a hard time finding affordable housing,” local MLA Nicholas Simons said in the release.
The project received approximately $7.9 million in funding from project partners, including $4.15 million in grants through BC Housing, according to Henry Glazebrook, a spokesperson with BC Housing. PHSHS is providing the land for the project and the SCRD is contributing $45,000 in municipal fee waivers.
“We expect construction to begin shortly with Spani Construction heading up the project,” PHSHS co-vice chair Mike Carson told Coast Reporter.
Once complete, the building is anticipated to be 14,400 square feet. It will offer one- and two-bedroom units. These will be managed on a non-profit basis by the PHSHS. Monthly rents are projected to range from $1,700 to $2,100, depending on unit size and tenant income. As part of the unit rents, the society will provide residents with services to assist with daily living, such as housekeeping and an on-site caretaker.
All units will be adaptable, allowing for the suites to be modified to meet residents’ needs. The project includes shared dining and lounge areas, a communal kitchen, a multi-purpose room and space for gardening.
“The PHSHS would like to thank all the residents of Pender Harbour and the Sunshine Coast who have helped with this landmark project. On behalf of the board members, both past and present, we are thrilled to be partnering with BC Housing to make this dream a reality. This will provide much needed rental housing for seniors and we look forward to providing more details as it progresses,” said Carson.
According to the society’s website, Lily Lake Place “will be the finest affordable seniors housing available on the Coast, with first-class amenities and materials used throughout. All construction and design will adhere to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for a world class facility engineered to last and cost less to operate.”
Provincial funding for the project is part of B.C.’s 10-year, $7-billion housing plan. Since 2017 more than 30,000 affordable new homes have been completed or are in progress under that initiative. That number includes 488 housing units on the Sunshine Coast.
