The provincial government is buying a partially finished building in Nelson with plans to turn it into affordable housing.
BC Housing told the Nelson Star it will convert the property at 45 Government Rd. to housing, with construction expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.
A spokesperson for BC Housing did not say what the purchase price was or how many units would be made available at the four-storey site, which had initially been built for cannabis manufacturing before those plans were abandoned in 2021.
"BC Housing is in the process of procuring a non-profit housing provider to manage the day-to-day operations at the building. Once they are in place, we will be able to share more information regarding plans for the project."
The land was purchased in 2019 by the Nelson Cannabis Collective, which hoped to capitalize on the then-new federal legalization rules by constructing the first such processing facility located within a North American city.
But just over two years later, with the foundation already laid, the project was scrapped due to investment shortfall and concerns of industry over-regulation that were shared by other producers.
The nearly 30,000 square-foot building then was rezoned for a mix of residential and commercial use in 2023.
When complete, the property will become the latest in a number of housing sites that are either recently developed, under construction or being planned for in Nelson.
SHARE Housing has pitched a five-storey affordable housing site in Fairview, while Nelson CARES wants to build a six-storey site on Front Street next to the Nelson and District Community Complex. Neither plan has received approval from the city, but council voted Jan. 7 to help fund BC Housing applications for both projects.
The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce meanwhile is preparing to construct a six-storey, 55-unit workplace housing site in Railtown next to the visitor's centre building at 91 Baker St. Work continues downtown on the 125-unit rental building for seniors constructed by Kelowna-based Vendure Retirement Communities, and BC Housing has also set up temporary housing next to the former North Shore Inn that is undergoing renovations.
The Nelson Health Campus, which adds 75 long-term care beds to the city, is also expected to open this year.
