b'PROJECT PROFILEsubstantial completion is only about sixlocation is close to the downtown area and weeks later than the original schedule. Kootenay Lake, and provides easy access to all downtown Nelson amenities. The look of the exterior of the project and how it blends in with other heritageRobinson notes that a recent housing buildings in the Hall and Front areaneeds and demand study determined that is already receiving accolades from theNelson required more than 200 affordable community. We wanted to create a lookhousing units to meet the needs of the that fits into the community around it,local population. The project on Hall explains Culos. From initial feedback,Street is the first affordable housing project the project is a nice fit for the blend ofin Nelson since 2007.buildings on Front Street.Local leaders consider the 41 units to be a One of the key advantages of this projectsignificant number for a community the is that it is being designed and built fromsize of Nelson. The city was expected to the ground-up, states Robinson. Oftenenter its seventh year of near-zero-per-cent affordable housing properties includevacancy rate in 2021; locals are having great buildings that have to be renovated todifficulty finding housing, affordable or not. provide rental units. This approach is not optimum for creating the best livingLuckily, Hall Streetalong with a spaces. At Hall Street, we started fromsimilar project on Nelson Avenue to ground zero and optimized the design forcreate an additional 47 unitswill have all potential residents. She also adds thata significant effect on the citys housing Hall Street is being viewed as a pilot byshortage. Its going to have a very positive BC Housing and Community Living BC. impact throughout the rental market in the entire Nelson region, says Nelson-COMMUNITY IMPACT Creston MLA Michelle Mungall. Funding for the project includes $4.5 million from The community is excited about theBC Housing and $542,400 from the opening of the Hall Street complex. TheColumbia Basin Trust.The Hall Street project is a good start to resolving the affordable housing challenge in Nelson. Similar to other small communities in B.C., it is hard to develop the fabric of the community when it is so difficult for residents to find affordable housing. A healthy community needs residents who live and work in the city. Currently, some residents commute 45 to 60 minutes to their jobs in Nelson.The project team, including Culos and the construction trades, Nelson CARES, BC Housing, the Columbia Basin Trust, the Nelson city council and staff and other partners, is proud of how things have turned out for the project. Jenny and her team at Nelson CARES were great to work for, as were all of the Nelson community and trade groups on the project, states Culos.People must understand that affordable housing is a community issue and needs public partnerships to have success, adds Robinson. When the community invests in affordable housing like Hall Street versus private ownership, the housing created will last for decades to come.SICA CONSTRUCTION REVIEWSpring 202145'