NEARLY 1,200 rental homes are coming soon for individuals, seniors and families with middle incomes in the Township of Langley and Burnaby, through new BC Builds projects.
“Too many people are having a hard time finding a place to live they can afford – through BC Builds we’re taking action to fix that,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, on Monday. “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.”
By leveraging underused land and repayable loans for builders at rates better than banks, which are all paid back to government with interest, BC Builds is designed to overcome challenging market conditions and deliver lower-cost rental homes for people in communities throughout B.C. The program also provides grants to ensure greater affordability and works with municipalities, landowners, residential builders and housing operators to move projects from concept to construction within 12 to 18 months, compared to the current of average three to five years.
“We’re delivering homes middle-income people can afford, in our community,” said Megan Dykeman, MLA for Langley East. “Through programs like BC Builds, we’ll be welcoming over 700 homes to Langley, and over 400 in Burnaby, so that the people who support our communities can afford to live in them. This will make a profound difference for families in these communities.”
Construction is now underway on The Colton (Phase 2), located at 8539 201B Street and 20129 85 Avenue in the Township of Langley. The project, a partnership between BC Housing and Tannin Developments Limited, will provide 371 homes for individuals, seniors and families with middle incomes. It will feature four six-storey buildings with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes. Ninety-five of these homes will be adaptable for accessibility purposes.
Rents at The Colton (Phase 2) will be known closer to completion, with at least 40 homes below market rates and none higher than market. Construction is expected to be complete in late 2027.
“From the ground up, The Colton is more than construction; it’s a commitment to craftsmanship, compassion and to the community of Langley,” said Dave Regehr, CEO, Tannin Developments. “Tannin Developments is looking forward to bringing much needed rental homes to the families of Langley.”
Developer partners have also been selected for three previously announced pre-zoned sites in the Township of Langley, including:
* 20230 72B Avenue – Caliber Communities, nearly 110 units
* 27200 Block of Fraser Highway – Caliber Communities, approximately 100 units
* 7883 199 Street – Edgar Development and Orion Construction, approximately 160 units
These developer partners were selected through BC Builds’ Housing Development Opportunities platform, which connects builders to ready-to-go land and municipalities that are signed on to expedite projects through the permitting process.
These three Township of Langley projects are in early development. Specific details, including refined unit counts, planned design elements, project funding and construction timing, will be made public once they are finalized.
A rezoning proposal is also moving forward for approximately 430 units at 7135 Walker Avenue and 7244 Arcola Street in Burnaby, in a partnership between the BC Builds program and The Neighbourhood Church, formerly known as Southside Community Church. If approved by council, the planned 45-storey project would replace the Neighbourhood Church’s gathering space and replace it with a ministry hub program space, retail, and arts centre with a theatre for community concerts and performances.
Full project details on 7135 Walker Avenue and 7244 Arcola Street, including total project cost, BC Housing grants and financing through BC Builds, will be made public after the project has proceeded through the rezoning and financial approvals process. If approved, construction is anticipated to begin in late 2025.
These projects are part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 80,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including nearly 1,400 homes in Langley and more than 3,700 homes in Burnaby.
