b'PROJECT PROFILEBUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN B.C. BY WARREN HEELEYNELSON CARES TURNS CONDO DEVELOPMENT INTO LOW-COST RENTAL UNITSesidents of B.C. have beenas administrator of the new site, overseeingwill have accessible units and a group R challenged for years to findthe qualifications of potential renters andhome for people with disabilities on the affordable properties, either forthe guidelines for who can apply. second floor.purchase or for rent. Foreign real estate investors and the influx of new residentsSeventy per cent of the available units willThe exterior design for the condomin-have led to decades of escalating realbe subsidized by BC Housing for low- iums essentially stayed the same for the estate property values and suppressedincome affordability, says Jenny Robinson,new project, says Culos. The interior, development of affordable housing. executive director for Nelson CARES. Thehowever, had to be redesigned to accom-remaining units will be made available atmodate the increased number and type But in the city of Nelson, B.C., the tidelow-end market rental prices. of units and the commercial space on is turning. A vacant lot on Hall Streetthe ground floor for the Nelson CARES near the downtown area will provide newThe units are for low- to moderate-incomeoffices. Other changes needed involved affordable housing for the city. The lot,families, and the development will alsomeeting BC Housing standards for afford-owned by builder Culos Developments,include space for the Nelson CARESable housing and accessibility.was originally slated to be a condominiumoffice. According to Culos, around 80 per development. However, Mike Culos,cent of the labour and materials used forA significant challenge for construction owner of Culos Developments, saw anconstruction is being sourced locally. Atwas the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic opportunity to change the project tothe time of writing, the Hall Street projectabout a year into the construction schedule. much-needed affordable housing and tookis forecast to be completed by the end ofThough the site was not shut down, Culos his idea to various groups in the city February 2021. had to change its approach to health and particularly the Nelson CARES Society.safety on the jobsite in line with Work-DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION SafeBC and public health guidelines. Nelson CARES is non-profit society that provides community programs, such asThe project is a four-storey apartment andMeasures such as physical distancing, adequate and safe housing. The societytownhouse complex with a unique frontregular sanitizing of surfaces and hand-will be purchasing the development whenthat curves around the corner of Hall andwashing stations were added. Sourcing of construction is completed and, withFront Streets. This design creates differentmaterials and product during COVID-19 financial help from BC Housing, will createelements for each unit in the building.has been a challenge, states Culos. Despite 41 affordable rental units. They will also actCreating an inclusive project, the complexthese challenges, our forecasted date of 44 SOUTHERN INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION'