Ground has officially been broken on what’s being called the “largest community housing project” in the province in over 40 years.
The apartment complex is being built on Churchill Avenue in the Pleasantville area of St. John’s.
The build includes 137 new homes for people – 114 of which will be affordable.
The site of the new affordable housing complex near Quidi Vidi Lake (VOCM News)
It is being Developed by the non-profit organization Avalon Housing Trust, with funding from all three levels of government.
Representative John Phillips says they will maintain ownership of the building and the goal is to break even, not to make a profit.
The site of the new affordable housing complex near Quidi Vidi Lake (VOCM News)
He says rents will only go up in accordance with the costs of maintaining the facility, and there will be no market increases.
Phillips says they don’t want to build “tomorrow’s slums,” stating that they want to build and maintain a place where people want to live and be proud of.
John Phillips (VOCM News)
He says they will have property managers that will help keep the place up. “It’s the broken window rule. Once the windows start to get broken it signals that no one cares, and therefore the property goes to hell. If in fact, you fix the broken windows, you put a lick of paint on, you clean up the garbage, people will take pride in their homes.”
It is expected that the facility will be completed by September 2028, with people moving in shortly thereafter.
