New seniors’ housing breaks ground in Cranbrook

The City of Cranbrook, in partnership with the governments of Canada and British Columbia and Columbia Basin Trust, gathered today to celebrate the official groundbreaking of a new 36-unit development in Cranbrook for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.

"The federal government continues its unwavering focus on the Canadian economy, especially in smaller communities," said Kootenay Columbia MP Jim Abbott. "The bonus is the extremely high value that this project brings to deserving East Kootenay residents."

“There are no downsides to making investments like this because it fulfills key priorities of our government, such as stimulating the economy, creating jobs and building housing for those who need it,” said Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett.

The factory-built modular homes will be transported to Cranbrook and placed on prepared foundations on site. These units will be grouped into six sixplex, townhome-style clusters, with four clusters located on the ball field area and two located along the lower campground access.

This project is made possible through funding contributions from the City of Cranbrook, the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada and Columbia Basin Trust. The development is designed to stimulate the local economy and increase affordable rental housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities in smaller communities across the province.

“I want to thank MP Abbott, MLA Bennett and the Columbia Basin Trust for their contributions to this important project for the City of Cranbrook,” said Mayor Scott Manjak. “Providing safe, affordable housing for the seniors in this community is important to Council and our residents. I am excited to see this great project move forward.”

“One of our goals is to assist communities in dealing with affordable housing issues, and in particular to support new housing initiatives,” said Garry Merkel, CBT board chair. “This is a unique opportunity for CBT to be involved, not only in the creation of 36 units here in Cranbrook, but in the creation of a significant number of housing units Basin-wide, and increasing seniors' housing throughout the region is something that we are really pleased to be part of.”

Columbia Basin Trust has committed $425,000 to the overall capital costs of seven sites in the Columbia Basin region, for a total of 114 units under the Seniors’ Rental Housing (SRH) initiative. Projects will be built in Cranbrook, Kimberley, Creston, Baynes Lake, Golden, Revelstoke and Valemount.

The SRH initiative is a result of a $365-million joint investment under an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Initiative Agreement, which includes funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and by the Government of British Columbia.

This initiative, initially announced by the two levels of government on April 8, 2009, will provide $123.5 million, including $104 million for seniors and $19.5 million for persons with disabilities, to develop approximately 1,300 new affordable rental housing units, which will help to stimulate local economies in smaller communities across B.C. Under the terms of the agreement, the provincial and federal governments will provide matching contributions of $61.79 million.