Families and individuals now have access to 49 new affordable rental homes in Fernie with the opening of North End Court.
Located at 302 13th St., North End Court is a mixed-housing development consisting of a 35-unit apartment building and a 14-unit townhouse complex. With a total of 49 rental homes, the development provides a variety of housing options for people with low or moderate incomes, including families, seniors, single parents and people living with disabilities.
Operated by Fernie Family Housing Society, the four-storey apartment building offers 19 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom units. Six of the one-bedroom apartment units are accessible and two are adaptable. One of the two-bedroom units is also adaptable. The townhouse complex has 10 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom homes.
“Since 2000, the Fernie Family Housing Society has worked diligently toward building a strong affordable housing sector in Fernie to ensure that the most vulnerable of its citizens have access to affordable and safe housing options,” said Gayle Vallance, president of the Fernie Family Housing Society.
North End Court and the adjacent 27-unit Tom Uphill Manor are owned and operated by the society. The development is situated near elementary and secondary schools and the Elk Valley Hospital.
“Projects like North End Court are integral to the livability of our community, providing critical housing diversity for our residents,” said Nic Milligan, mayor of Fernie. “We are grateful to all those who collaborated to create these new affordable and accessible rental units, which will serve a vital need in Fernie.”
Columbia Basin Trust (Trust) has committed approximately $4.6 million to the apartment building through the Affordable Rental Housing Initiative, a joint program between BC Housing and the Trust with the Trust additionally contributing a $217,000 grant to the townhouse complex.
“We are thrilled to be part of the North End Court project in Fernie, which offers a range of affordable housing options for the community,” said Johnny Strilaeff, Trust President and CEO. “This development exemplifies the power of partnerships in addressing housing challenges. Congratulations to the Fernie Family Housing Society and all the partners for bringing this project to fruition.”
Since 2016, the Trust has committed over $76.8 million toward initiatives that help create new affordable rental housing, conserve energy, and generate renewable and alternative energy. These initiatives have helped create over 1,100 affordable rental homes in the Basin and upgraded another 1,670, are creating energy savings of approximately 7 million equivalent kilowatt hours per year and help save $778,000 in annual operating costs for non-profit affordable housing societies.
Learn more about the Trust’s Housing Initiative at ourtrust.org/housing.
Read the full release here.
