A new apartment building with 39 new one-bedroom rental units designed to be affordable for members of the local workforce is now open in Nelson.

“People in the hospitality and service industries are a critical part of the local economy, and they should not have to commute from far out of town just to get to work,” said Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston. “Not only will these new homes make life more affordable for people, but they will also reduce GHG emissions associated with commuting and allow people to live near where they work so they can spend more time enjoying all of Nelson’s benefits.”

Located at 102 Herridge Lane, Herridge Place is intended for individuals or couples working in the hospitality, retail and service sectors in Nelson. Monthly rents will be determined by the tenant’s household income and will range from $375 to $950.

To be eligible for a unit, residents must have an annual household income of less than $74,150, already have employment and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

SHARE Housing Initiative Society donated the land for the project and will own and operate Herridge Place. This is the first housing project owned and operated by the society, which was created by the Kootenay Christian Fellowship (KCF).

“This project became a reality due to the vision, hard work and dedication of many community members of Nelson, including the good folks at Kootenay Christian Fellowship and members of the SHARE Housing Initiative Society,” said Jim Reimer, lead pastor for KCF and chairperson of SHARE. “When a community works together, good things happen.”

The project is part of a shared $28-million commitment between the Province and Columbia Basin Trust to deliver new affordable rental homes in the Columbia Basin region.

“This project is a great example of what the Columbia Basin Trust looks forward to partnering on—bringing together support in an area of identified need from basin residents—with locally led, community-focused efforts that enhance the quality of life for those in the city,” said Johnny Strilaeff, president and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust. “Kudos to the vision and drive of Pastor Jim Reimer and the Kootenay Christian Fellowship, the SHARE Housing Initiative Society, Nelson City Council and other local partners, and to our partnership with BC Housing for making it all possible. It’s certainly a real achievement that will have an immediate impact in the Nelson community.”

Herridge Place is in Nelson’s downtown core and close to grocery stores, the library, public transit and health services. Retail services and restaurants are also within walking distance.

Residents will start moving into their new homes on Oct. 1, 2021.

Quick Facts:

• The Province, through BC Housing, in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust contributed approximately $11.5 million to the project.
• The City of Nelson provided approximately $12,000 to the project.

Learn More:

To learn more about the commitment between the Province and Columbia Basin Trust to build more affordable housing, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018MAH0046-000801

A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available online: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC

To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/