BURNABY – Families and people in need of affordable rental homes will soon have access to 125 new homes and the peace of mind that comes from secure housing.

“After years of housing affordability being ignored by the previous government, we have put the focus back on people and building the right types of homes around the province,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Working with partners in governments, non-profit and development sector, we’re delivering results by building affordable homes for people in our province, including single people, working families, seniors and people with disabilities.”

Located at 6585 Sussex Ave., the 14-storey apartment building will provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and people living in Burnaby. A total of 25 units will be accessible and adaptable for people with disabilities. The new apartments are part of a larger redevelopment that also includes 324 units of market housing being developed by Thind Properties Ltd.

“These new homes will give families and people in Burnaby the security and peace of mind that comes with having an affordable place to call home,” said Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake. “Healthy homes help create healthy families and communities, and that’s exactly what this project, and others we’re building in Burnaby, are doing.”

The New Vista Society is an experienced affordable housing provider and will manage the building.
“The Sussex Avenue project will be so helpful for families in Burnaby who are in need of safe and secure housing. I’m proud our government is putting families and people first,” said Raj Chouhan, MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds. “We’re working hard every day to make housing more affordable for people in Burnaby and around the province.”

Excavation and site prep began in February 2019.

Delivering affordable housing is a shared commitment between government and the BC Green Party caucus and is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.

Quotes:

Mike Hurley, mayor, City of Burnaby —
“These affordable rental housing units make it possible for more Burnaby residents to live, work, learn and play here. Our city is healthier and stronger when it includes people from all income levels, ages and backgrounds.”

Linda Flegel, board president, New Vista Society —
“New Vista Society is delighted to partner with BC Housing, the City of Burnaby and Thind Properties on this exciting project, which will increase the number of affordable rental units for seniors and families in our community.”

Daljit Thind, president and CEO of Thind Properties Ltd. —
“Thind Properties recognized the crisis in affordable housing in the Metrotown area, then took the initiative to develop a model where a team consisting of private developers, the city, the Province (BC Housing) and a selected non-profit could mitigate the pain caused to people by ‘demovictions.’ This is in keeping with my pledge to always leave a neighbourhood a better place to live when we finish a project.”

Quick Facts:

• The Province, through BC Housing, provided $17 million in capital funding for the project.
• Through the rezoning process for Thind Properties Ltd.’s market development, the City of Burnaby set a requirement for 125 affordable housing units as a part of the project. Thind Properties Ltd. transferred a subdivided lot to the city for the affordable rental housing project.
• The City of Burnaby will contribute $7 million for the affordable housing building. Rental rates for the New Vista Society project are estimated to be:
  • Studio: $886/month
  • One bedroom: $1336/month
  • Two bedroom: $2132/month
  • Three bedroom: $2503/month
• Through the Building BC Community Housing Fund, the Province is working on more than 360 homes in Burnaby. The fund is providing new affordable mixed-income rental homes for people throughout the province: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0081-002184
• To address the issue of housing affordability for British Columbians, the Province is curbing speculation in B.C.’s housing market and helping to build 114,000 affordable market rental, non-profit, supported social housing and owner-purchase housing through partnerships.

Learn More:
To find out what the Province is doing to improve housing affordability, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges

Read Homes for B.C., government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: https://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
778 698-9176

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604 456-8917