Affordable housing project funding approved by BC Housing

Directors with the Gabriola Housing Society in front of where the 24-home Paisley Place Affordable Housing project will be built on Gabriola, with a Shovel Ready Housing grant from BC Housing. L-R: Bill McCallum, Wayne Mercier, Nancy Hetherington Peirce (Chair), Barry Loescher. Those missing: Kristina Baerg, Carol Hemrich, and Dave Adair. Derek Kilbourn photo

Sounder News

The Board of Gabriola Housing Society announced on September 20 that BC Housing has confirmed funding for the 24-home Paisley Place affordable rental housing project on Gabriola.

According to the Society, “the one-time Shovel Ready Housing grant from BC Housing, along with support from other funders and community donors, will enable the long-awaited project to begin this fall, with potential completion in summer 2026.”

BC Housing media representatives confirmed on Sept. 20 that it has granted a $10.9 million Shovel Ready Housing Grant to the Gabriola Housing Society in support of the Paisley Place housing development.

Sheila Malcolmson, outgoing MLA for Nanaimo said on the 20th that, “construction of Paisley Place means that more families and seniors who want to stay on Gabriola Island can.

“By investing in projects like Paisley Place, we are ensuring that Gabriola remains a place where families, seniors and people can find the housing they need.”

Paisley Place will provide 24 homes for people with low to moderate incomes, as defined by BC Housing. There will be eight triplexes spread over two acres of the five-acre property on Paisley Place:

• 4 studios

• 8 one-bedroom homes

• 4 two-bedroom homes

• 8 three-bedroom homes

Six of the 24 homes will be accessible.

Rents will be confirmed closer to opening, but priority will be given to offer the majority of homes at below market rate.

The Society will oversee the selection of residents. More information will be available once the construction is underway.

More information including a site plan is available on the Society’s website: www.gabriolahousing.ca

Nancy Hetherington Peirce, Chair of the Housing Society, spoke with the Sounder saying work on the project is planned to be started late next month.

To qualify for the Shovel Ready Housing grant, the Gabriola Housing Society had to have a completely tendered construction budget.

Kinetic has been hired as the Construction Manager.

Tendering for the trades was completed prior to the budget being put in as part of the grant application.

the site plan for the Paisley Place project. Graphic from gabriolahousing.ca