The Greater Victoria Housing Society (GVHS) has unveiled plans to redevelop its Colwood Lodge property on Belmont Road with a near-tripling of affordable rental units and the inclusion of four-bedroom suites, Citified has learned.

 

The affordable housing developer is readying to pursue a municipal planning process that would see the nearly 40-year-old four-storey, 50-unit Colwood Lodge – situated at 85 Belmont Road behind the mixed-use Colwood Corners development at Old Island Highway and Goldstream Avenue – replaced with a six-storey, 139-unit complex.

 

Comprised of a mixture of standard and senior-friendly studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites and family-oriented three and four-bedroom apartments, the project will help fill a gap in family-sized affordable housing units on the Westshore and provide much-needed accessible housing for seniors.

 

The proposal is GVHS’s second affordable housing project in the Colwood Corners area and one of several recently completed or in the planning stages at the hands of other housing providers.

 

Along the 300-block of Goldstream Avenue in Langford, GVHS is currently constructing a six-storey, 102-unit apartment that will feature studio, one, two and three-bedroom suites. The building is a stone’s throw from the recently completed four-storey 550 Goldstream Avenue complex (with 36 affordable rentals) by M'akola Development Services and the first phase of Oak Park, Pacifica Housing’s 73-unit affordable rental recently completed along the 600-block. Oak Park will also include a second phase featuring 80 homes.

 

Along the Old Island Highway Pacifica Housing just wrapped up construction of Helios, an 82-unit affordable rental situated opposite the entrance to Royal Roads University.

 

And earlier this year the province announced funding for a 124-unit affordable apartment building at 342 Wale Road on a site formerly eyed for a 23-storey highrise tower. Its one, two and three-bedroom units will be earmarked for First Nations singles and families.

 

GVHS expects to pursue municipal approvals starting this spring or summer with construction most likely beginning next year. C

 

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