Last week saw an announcement reveal that the Lax Kw’alaams Band will be getting new affordable rental homes to house their members in the City of Prince Rupert.
Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond attended the new project’s groundbreaking and then later talked about some more details of the project;
“There are 38 units, a variety of studio, one bedroom and two bedroom units. They’re right across from Save-On so they’re walkable within the community.”
The housing project will be located at 836 3rd Avenue in Prince Rupert and it’s expected to be completed sometime in the fall of 2027.
The Province of BC provided over $15 Million in total to this project through BC Housing.
Mayor Pond also mentioned the key role that the City of Prince Rupert played in putting this development in motion in addition to how this project should really benefit a lot of people, including the City;
“The City of Prince Rupert has opened the door to encourage that kind of development in the downtown core, waiving building fees, waiving development cost charges, eliminating parking requirements. All kinds of things to make it easier to get a project across the line. I think it’s particularly relevant for seniors, in that a senior could live in those units, not have a vehicle and be able to walk across the street and get their groceries. Every time they build another housing unit, like the 70 unit apartment on 11th, that’s families that are no longer putting pressure on the Prince Rupert housing market. So every time one of those developments goes ahead, it’s good for the whole community. And we’re certainly looking forward to seeing more of them.”
The Lax Kw’alaams WAAP Housing Society owns the building and has control over what happens with it, although the City of Prince Rupert will act as an overseer for the building in order to make sure that quality standards are met.
This announcement also came alongside another revelation that the band is opening 20 new rental homes in another on-reserve community near Prince Rupert that’s only accessible by boat.