Another 40 units of affordable housing could be coming to Prince Rupert’s downtown core.
The Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society (GNS) announced this week it is purchasing the site of the former Inlander Hotel on Second Avenue West.
The GNS is planning to construct a housing complex featuring a mix of apartment sizes ranging from studios to three-bedroom family units.
The GNS says the project is 100 per cent rent-geared-to-income, meaning there will be a focus on Indigenous households that earn less than $45,500 per year. Rents are expected to range from $585-$1,024 on average, depending on the size of the unit and income of the family.
“We see this property as an ideal downtown location, near the Nisga’a Hall, with a bus stop right out front, and within a five-minute walk to grocery stores, government buildings, and many other businesses and amenities,” said Blair Mirau, society CEO.
“Our board has focussed on expanding our mandate into housing for years, and we feel this is our best opportunity to do so.”
Leading up to the acceptance of the purchase offer, the GNS has been conducting necessary due diligence over the past few months, including geotechnical studies, architectural planning and site servicing.
It will now begin seeking the necessary funding for which it has considerable support including MLA Jennifer Rice, Mayor Herb Pond, the local ILWU, and the Highliner Hotel, as well as dozens of letters of support from nearby businesses and hundreds of signatures on a petition favouring the development.
The proposal requires municipal rezoning and a parking variance, which were presented at the May 27 regular meeting of city council in the form of a proposed bylaw amendment.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the proposal passing first, second and third readings of the zoning bylaw amendment. It is scheduled for adoption at the June 24 council meeting.
