The Creston Valley Housing Corporation has reached a major milestone in its first community housing project.
The corporation has hired Nelson-based firm Cover Architecture Collaborative to begin architectural design work on a mixed-use housing and childcare development planned for 1501 Cedar St.
The firm will develop the plans for the project, which will combine a 110-space licensed childcare facility with 50 rental housing units.
“It is very exciting to actually have our project underway,” said Creston town councillor Denise Dumas, who also serves as the housing corporation board chair.
“We have been diligently laying the groundwork of the housing corporation for over a year, establishing the corporation, recruiting board members, learning good governance, and developing a values matrix that helps with decision-making.”
The housing corporation was established in 2024 to facilitate a supply of sustainable rental housing that serves a broad range of residents. It focuses on governance, project development and securing partnerships to move its projects forward.
The corporation said it is working with Cover Architecture to design a modern, functional building that supports both “family-oriented childcare services” and “community-focused housing.”
Dumas said the main floor will house the childcare facility. The “family-oriented design” will allow children from the same family to be in the same space.
“The childcare facility is being designed to support all ages of children from infant to after-school care. This ultimately allows all the children from a family to be in the same child care centre since all age brackets are covered,” she said.
The residential units will be built on top of the childcare facility, with designs ranging from studio suites to three-bedroom units.
She emphasized that the building is not being operated to target any particular demographic or income group.
“It is market housing for anyone seeking to rent units,” said Dumas.
The housing corporation is hoping to have shovels in the ground by this summer, with construction expected to be complete by fall 2027.
The childcare portion of the project must be open by July 2027 to align with provincial grant requirements — a target Dumas believes is attainable.
“We are quite confident [in the construction timeline]. We have hired a very experienced project manager who has been guiding this project on behalf of the board of directors. He has developed, in collaboration with the contractors, the schedule,” she said.
Dumas reiterated that the housing portion is not low-income or subsidized housing, nor a seniors project. There is also no rental wait-list, and neither the Town of Creston nor the housing corporation will be accepting names or applications for future apartments.
Information about unit availability and application processes will be shared publicly at a later stage once timelines are confirmed.
“We know there is strong interest in housing in Creston,” said Dumas. “That’s exactly why it’s important to be clear and transparent about what this project is — and what it isn’t — as we move forward.”
She emphasized that the venture is a housing corporation project, not a project of the Town of Creston.
“This is a completely separate entity. This project is not funded by local tax dollars, nor will it be. There is a provincial grant for the childcare, but the housing corporation has sought out private borrowing for the residential units. There’s no connection to this borrowing and the Town of Creston,” she said.
The province is providing more than $10.8 million for the childcare component through its ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund. The funds for the housing portion will be secured through private borrowing.
The housing corporation has also launched its website. As planning continues, the corporation said it will provide updates through its website to ensure transparency. Click here for more information.
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