Province, CNV fund 75 new rental homes in Central Lonsdale

New homes are now available for low- to middle-income families, seniors and individuals in North Vancouver as a new rental apartment building opens.

Located at 125 East 20th St. in central Lonsdale, The Eleanor is a six-storey building with 75 rental homes designed to be affordable for middle-income households, and 10 with rent geared to income for people with low to moderate incomes.

It features a mix of studio, one-, two-and three-bedroom homes.

“Our work to address the housing affordability crisis must include solutions that help individuals and families with middle-level incomes, as well as those who are in deep need for subsidized housing,” said Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. “Financed by our HousingHub program, The Eleanor is a welcome addition to North Vancouver that will allow more middle-income community members and their families an affordable place to call home.”

The project is the result of a partnership between the Province, through BC Housing, VRS Communities, the Government of Canada through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the City of North Vancouver.

The City of North Vancouver provided $400,000 and signed a housing agreement with VRS Communities to ensure that 10 units, which are wheelchair accessible, will be at the rent-geared-to-income level.

VRS Communities Society will own and operate the homes.

“Access to affordable and adequate housing is a right we all share, but too many people are struggling to find a place to call home,” said CNV Mayor Linda Buchanan. “That’s why the city is committed to delivering affordable and accessible rental homes in partnership with other stakeholders. We are proud to have contributed to this project, and I’m excited to see it reach the tenanting phase as the community need has never been greater.”

VRS Communities received financing for the project through BC Housing’s HousingHub program, which was created in 2018 and works with community, government, non-profit and private-sector partners to help create new affordable rental housing and homeownership options for middle-income British Columbians.