The venture was a close collaboration between governments and organizations
A new affordable housing project in Victoria has been hailed by proponents as a “potential model” for future housing developments in British Columbia.
The Dalmatian, an eight-storey project that comes with 130 housing units, offers monthly rents ranging from $375 to $2,900.
The complex represented a close collaboration between the city and provincial governments, the developer Jawl Properties, and non-profit agency Pacifica Housing.
Jawl is anticipating that it will add 800 units in future phases of the project, along with commercial space and a public plaza.
The units currently under development are not nearly enough, according to Carolina Ibarra, CEO of Pacifica. Over the previous year alone, at least 1,300 people came to Victoria seeking housing.
“It’s a start, and it’s a really good start, but we need to keep going,” Ibarra said. “We need to celebrate it and move forward.”
BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said that such cooperation is a vital step in addressing the province’s perennial housing issues.
“We know if we continue to build strong partnerships like we have here in Victoria, with partners that are here today … we will take this housing crisis head-on,” Kahlon said.
