The B.C. government is spending nearly $13 million on 115 new affordable rental homes in Langford and Sooke.
The Oak Park redevelopment in Langford at 616 Goldstream Ave. will include 73 rental apartments and 12 townhouses.
A one-bedroom unit will rent for $1,020 a month, a two-bedroom for $1,200 and a three-bedroom rents for $1,550 a month.
The housing development will be operated by Pacifica Housing and is expected to be ready by the end of the year. The province contributed $7.5 million in capital funding and the City of Langford contributed $1.3 million.
Langford Mayor Stew Young said the municipality has worked hard to speed up the rezoning process to encourage developers to build new housing stock, including affordable housing projects.
“One of the biggest impediments to affordable housing is the government,” Young said. He said an inefficient bureaucracy at municipal levels and the regional level creates a bottleneck for new housing, which in turn keeps prices high.
“We need to get rid of the red tape,” Young said. “Houses would be more affordable if you can get your building permit in 48 hours and get your rezoning in three months.”
Langford has worked with developers to build affordable townhouses that are sold to families at 30 per cent to 40 per cent below the market rate.
In Sooke, provincial funding of $5.35 million will build a 42-unit housing complex that will include a community space, a café and church annex. It will be located at 2110 and 2120 Church Rd. and operated by the Knox Vision Society.
The complex is expected to open in early 2019.
Rent will start at $875 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, $1,100 for a two-bedroom and $1,300 a month for a three-bedroom.
“Like people across the province, too many families in Langford and Sooke are struggling to find affordable homes,” said Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “We’re working hard to deliver more housing for people in these communities and across British Columbia, so people can stay in the places they live, work and go to school.”
