Families and individuals with low to modest incomes will benefit from new affordable rental options, thanks to a new agreement between the B.C. government and City of Kelowna.

The development, which will create up to 90 apartments, is located at 1700 Chapman Place and will be part of the larger city-owned Central Green site in Kelowna.

"This development will give people a safe, affordable place to call home," said Premier Christy Clark. "I look forward to breaking ground, seeing construction begin, and making progress towards meeting Kelowna's housing needs."

A formal proposal call for a non-profit housing provider to build and operate the affordable housing stock on the site will be issued in late summer, with the successful proponent expected to be announced in fall 2013.

"The Central Green redevelopment presented a great opportunity for the province and city to work together again to deliver new affordable housing in Kelowna," said Rich Coleman, Minister Responsible for Housing. "This project builds on a number of successful partnerships we have had with the city."

"This project will support low to modest income families and individuals in our community, added Walter Gray, City of Kelowna mayor. "The need to incorporate affordable housing on the Central Green site was recognized as a priority when plans for the new neighbourhood were developed in consultation with Kelowna citizens."

The Province will work with the city and project partners to determine funding details once the project moves into the later stages of development. The City of Kelowna will contribute the land.

The new agreement between the Province and City builds upon an already successful partnership. The first partnership of this kind was an agreement in 2004 for construction of 36 supportive housing units. Another agreement in 2008 created 128 units at three new supportive housing developments for those most in need in Kelowna.

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $3.6 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 98,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial housing programs and services.
• In 2012-13, the B.C. government invested over $10.7 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 3,000 Kelowna households.
  

About Central Green

• The Central Green development is the old Kelowna Senior Secondary School site, at Harvey Avenue & Richter Street and is owned by the City of Kelowna. The site is vacant following the demolition of the old high school and is approximately five hectares in size.
• The development will have multi-family developments, retail spaces, and commercial areas that will complement the existing downtown business sector. 
• There are six parcels available for development, a community park and one lot reserved for the affordable housing development which will have up to 90 units in one building.
  

Learn More:

To learn more about affordable housing in B.C., visit: www.bchousing.org
To learn more about Central Green, visit: www.kelowna.ca/cityprojects

Contacts:
Sam Oliphant
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445

Tom Wilson
City of Kelowna
250 469-8663

Graham Hood
City of Kelowna
250 469-8469