Ninety-two units of affordable housing could be coming to Second Avenue, in addition to a community laundromat and kitchen.
At a Special Committee of the Whole meeting last week, Mission’s council voted to support More Than A Roof’s BC Housing application for 33230 Second Avenue – the building neighbouring Welton Towers.
“This is the right step forward to an amazing opportunity for the community and hopefully they could deliver much-needed services and amenities,” Coun. Jag Gill said.
The 11-storey building was built for affordable housing, but a past agency failed to secure a grant for the project. The construction continued without the partnering agency, but the owner has continued to look for a new operator.
More Than A Roof is now partnering with the builder to ensure the housing fulfills its original purpose.
The new grant application to the Community Housing Fund includes 10 storeys of affordable housing and one storey containing a shared kitchen, laundromat and bases for social enterprises.
More Than A Roof is a non-profit housing provider that develops and manages housing for low to moderate income seniors, families and singles. The organization is also a housing-based healthcare provider offering mental health support and addiction recovery services in various locations.
“[It’s an] organization with roots out here in the Valley and lots of experience at not only building housing across the spectrum but also providing socialization and support within those buildings,” Mission Mayor Paul Horn said.
The non-profit is proposing to fill the existing building with 100 per cent affordable housing with rates ranging from 20 per cent below market to 50 per cent below market.
The building will also feature adaptable units to fit the needs of people with physical disabilities.
The laundromat design allows for a partition so tenants have separate laundry from the community.
“I was really excited again that… this incorporated a laundry facility because we don’t have one right now and there’s been a huge demand for that,” Horn said.
The motion to support the application was added to the special meeting because the call for proposals to BC Housing opens on July 29. Horn said it will likely be ratified at the July 17 meeting.
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dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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