Families and individuals are moving into 90 new affordable rental homes in North Vancouver’s Lynn Creek community, with the completion of the Salal Apartments at 267 Orwell St.
The Salal Apartments offer a range of rental rates, including deeply subsidized options and rent geared to income. “We’ve made changes to the Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter to make it easier to build non-market housing,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, emphasizing the project’s significance for providing affordable housing.
Situated in a walkable, transit-oriented area, the Salal Apartments are close to parks, schools, services, and other amenities. A new bike lane and the upgraded Phibbs Exchange, which features 13 bus routes, enhance connectivity for residents, the Province said in a press release.
“These new homes will go a long way to support members of our community,” stated Bowinn Ma, MLA for Vancouver-Lonsdale. “The Salal Apartments will allow families to continue to live and work in their community with housing options that meet the needs of growing families.”
Owned and operated by the Sanford Affordable Housing Society, the six-storey wood frame building features 52 one-bedroom, 27 two-bedroom, and 11 three-bedroom units for households with low and middle incomes.
“The availability of affordable housing is a critical issue for our residents,” noted Mike Little, mayor of the District of North Vancouver. He expressed satisfaction with the collaborative efforts of the Province of B.C. and the Sanford Affordable Housing Society in increasing housing options.
The development is supported by a new regulation for amenity cost charges (ACC), introduced in fall 2023, which allows local governments to collect funds from new developments for community amenities. Certain types of affordable housing are exempt from paying ACCs, making it easier for developers to build non-market affordable housing.
“These 90 homes will provide affordability, safety, and security for thousands of individuals and families over the life course of this building,” said Jill Atkey, CEO of British Columbia Non-Profit Housing Association, highlighting the collaborative efforts across government and non-profit sectors.
The District of North Vancouver provided land valued at approximately $8.3 million and waived development cost charges of about $1.6 million.
