The British Columbia government said nearly 1,200 rental housing units designed to be affordable for people with middle-class incomes are under construction or in the project pipeline in Burnaby and Langley Township.
The province's BC Builds program is developing the more than 700 houses in Langley and over 400 units in Burnaby under its Homes for People initiative intended to speed up housing construction for middle-income people, including seniors and families, according to a provincial statement.
“Too many people are having a hard time finding a place to live they can afford," said BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. “We’re delivering more middle-class homes so the people who keep our communities working — like teachers, nurses and construction workers — can find a place to live they can afford in the communities they love.”
The projects are part of a $19 billion investment by the government to build nearly 80,000 units that have been finished or are under way since 2017, including nearly 1,400 houses in Langley and more than 3,700 units in Burnaby.
The program provides low-interest loans and partners with municipalities, landowners, residential builders and housing operators to move projects from proposal to construction within 12 to 18 months, faster than the current average of three to five years, according to the statement.
Among the projects under construction is the second phase of The Colton, a partnership between BC Housing and Tannin Developments Limited that will provide hundreds of units in four six-storey buildings with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The Colton is expected to be complete in late 2027.
The province also tapped developer Caliber Communities to build two projects totaling 210 homes at 20230 72B Ave. and the 27200 block of Fraser Highway in Langley. Edgar Development and Orion Construction will build a total of 160 units at 7883 199 St.
In Burnaby, BC Builds is moving a rezoning proposal forward for 430 units in a proposed 45-storey tower at 7135 Walker Ave. and 7244 Arcola St.
The project, to be developed in a partnership between the province and The Neighbourhood Church, formerly known as Southside Community Church, is expected to break ground late next year.