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NANAIMO – Seniors and people living with disabilities in Nanaimo now have more affordable housing options with the opening of 62 new homes at Sunfield Manor.
Located at 1135 Seafield Cres., the newly opened five-storey building has 54 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom homes, most of them with their own patio or deck. It is owned and operated by the Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society. Twelve of the units are fully accessible with the remaining being adaptable.
Sunfield Manor is near the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and has office space for the society, a shared amenity space for residents and a mobility scooter storage area.
Half the units will have rent geared to income, where rent is 30 per cent of the tenant’s income. Some of the units will be rented to households with very low incomes, such as those receiving income or disability assistance, or a basic seniors’ pension. Others will be rented at below-market rates.
This project is part of a two-phase redevelopment proposed for the 2.4-acre site. Tenants of an existing 30-unit building on the property, Seafield Manor, are moving into the new building. Once vacant, Seafield Manor will then be demolished to make room for a proposed future phase that would add even more new housing on the site. Residents moving from Seafield Manor will see no change to their rent.
“We are thrilled to see this much needed seniors’ housing open in Nanaimo. By replacing an aging building with new, modern units we will improve quality of life for residents, and also make better use of the land to significantly increase the total number of affordable housing on this site. We would like to thank our dedicated Board members, past and present, for their efforts and all of our funders for their support,” said Kerry Howell, President of the Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society.
Funding provided for this project is as follows:
- $2.7 million from the federal government through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF)
- $6.6 million from the Province of British Columbia through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund and approximately $268,000 in annual operating funding
- $200,000 in capital funding and $1.2 million in land equity from Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society
- The City of Nanaimo waived a portion of the development charges
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