6010 Hammond Bay Rd. is seeing new tenants trickle into the north Nanaimo affordable housing complex. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

life changing

‘They cry when they get a key to a new home:’ north Nanaimo affordable housing complex opens

Dec 4, 2023 | 9:32 AM

NANAIMO — Lower cost housing options for nearly 90 people in the city’s north end are ready to put a small dent in the widening affordability crisis.

Operated by Ballenas Housing Society (BHS), around a dozen people have moved into 6010 Hammond Bay Rd. near Brickyard Rd, home to fifty-three units in a four-storey building.

During a recent site visit, Andrea Blakeman, BHS chief operating officer, said offering affordable places to live in an increasingly affordable market is critical.

“Men, women of all ages they cry when they get a key to a new home,” Blakeman told NanaimoNewsNOW.

According to the Federal government, half of the units are rent geared to income, calculated at 30 per cent of a tenant’s monthly salary, while other units are for people with “very low incomes”, and others are rented at below or at market rate.

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Three ground-floor units are fully wheelchair accessible, while all of the units are adaptable to seniors and those with disabilities.

This wheelchair accessible unit features lowered counters, drawers and appliances. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Blakeman said the Hammond Bay Rd. facility, conveniently located on a bus route and close to numerous amenities, fits well with a particular demographic.

“Especially young professional couples that can’t get a mortgage, would love to buy a house but this might be there opportunity to stay for a few years, save up enough for a down payment, then move on,” she said.

Providing housing in north Nanaimo represents a new offering for BHS, which Blakeman said also works well for seniors and those who have family living in the area.

While the price-tag of larger units is higher, Blakeman said their mid Island projects are predominately one-bedroom units.

“This particular project has 37 two-bedrooms out of the 53 units, which is unusual; that will really allow a lot of small families.”

Blakeman was highly complimentary of the City of Nanaimo during the permitting process, stating their occupancy permit granted in late September was approved much sooner than expected.

Most of the building’s one-bedroom units have been spoken for, Blakeman noted.

“We’re really actively marketing the two bedrooms.”

6010 Hammond Bay Rd. includes an elevator, exterior walking area/rain absorbing garden feature and courtyard.

Interested tenants can apply at: info@ballenas.ca, with Blakeman pointing out any subsidized units require a BC Housing registry number, which has instructions to acquire on the BHS website linked here.

The project is primarily funded federally, with contributions from the province, while BHS provided the land.

First announced three years ago, the project, previously home to a large single-family lot, broke ground in January 2022.

An angle of 6010 Hammond Bay Rd. from the rear of the building off Clayburn Pl. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes