Exterior Rendering of Sunfield Manor
NANAIMO – Nanaimo will be seeing $9.3 million in federal and provincial capital funding for the construction of 62 new rental units for moderate and low-income seniors in Nanaimo. Construction at Sunfield Manor is currently underway.
The five-storey building, located at 1125 Seafield Crescent, will be operated by the Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society. The building will feature 58 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom homes, most with their own patio or deck.
The building is located close to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, parks, grocery stores, and accessible by public transit. Sunfield Manor will also feature shared amenity space and a mobility scooter storage area for residents. Twelve of the units are fully accessible with the remaining being adaptable.
Both the site and the building design will foster social integration and cohesion with a common kitchen, gardens and community room. Once complete, tenants move to the new building from the existing 30-unit building, which will then be demolished.
There will be no change in rent unless a tenant’s income or household size has changed.
Of the 62 units, all are below market rent, with 20 percent at shelter rates, 30 percent are low-end-of-market units, and 50 percent are rent geared to income. Tenants are expected to start moving into their new homes in summer 2023.
“Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society is excited to grow our organization so we can provide more affordable homes to seniors and people with disabilities at a time when there is so much need. We appreciate the ongoing support and collaboration with BC Housing and our other partners who have made this project a reality,” said Kerry Howell, President, Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society.
Approximately $2.7 million of the funding will be provided by the federal government through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF); $6.6 million from the Province of BC through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund and ongoing annual operating funding; $200,000 in capital funding and $1.2 million in land equity from Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society and $189,000 in development fees waived by the City of Nanaimo.
“This is a welcome investment in housing for our valued senior citizens, providing safe places to live that low-income seniors can afford is simply the right thing to do. I am grateful for the hard work of the Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society and for the support from the federal and provincial governments that have made this project possible,” said Leonard Krog, Mayor of Nanaimo.
Business Examiner Staff