The Creston Valley Housing Corporation has unveiled preliminary designs for its housing and childcare development on Cedar Street, as the project moves toward detailed costing and procurement.
The development at 1501 Cedar St. will combine a 110-space licensed childcare facility with 50 market-rental apartments in a four-storey residential building above.
The housing corporation said in a press release that the childcare centre is designed to serve children of all ages, from infants and toddlers to preschoolers and school-aged children needing before- and after-school care.
The preliminary design includes dedicated indoor learning spaces and outdoor play areas, with the childcare facility on the ground floor and residential units on the upper floors.
The housing component will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with private balconies and separate residential entrances.
According to CVHC, parking for residents will be available both on-site and at additional facilities across Cedar Street.
The residential portion will be financed through private borrowing by the corporation, while the childcare component is supported by more than $10.8 million in provincial funding through the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund.
The overall construction budget will not be released while detailed costing and procurement activities are underway. CVHC said this is to maintain a fair and competitive process for contractors and other project partners.
The corporation has also engaged Michael Lewis as project manager. It said Lewis brings more than 20 years of construction industry experience and has been working with the board, architects and other professionals on design, budgeting, procurement planning and project governance.
“This project represents a significant investment in our community’s future,” said Councillor Denise Dumas, chair of the Creston Valley Housing Corporation.
“By bringing together childcare and housing in one thoughtfully designed development, CVHC is helping to address two critical needs that impact families, workforce attraction, and community growth.”
The Creston Valley Housing Corporation was established in 2024 to help increase the supply of rental housing in the community. It hired Nelson-based Cover Architecture Collaborative to begin designing the project in February 2026.
Construction began in May, with crews initially focused on relocating underground utilities and completing site servicing work.
Site work nearly complete
In a separate update released Oct. 13, CVHC said site servicing and underground utility work is substantially complete or nearing completion.
Upgrades to stormwater infrastructure have been installed, while water and sanitary sewer services have been relocated to support the development.
However, the corporation said the relocation of existing FortisBC electrical distribution lines has taken longer than anticipated due to the effects of this summer’s wildfire season.
“Due to the extraordinary demands placed on utility resources throughout British Columbia during this summer’s wildfire season, coordination of the final transfer of underground electrical distribution lines to their new location has taken longer than originally anticipated,” said the corporation.
The lines have been temporarily moved above ground so underground infrastructure work can continue safely.
CVHC said the utility work has resulted in a slight scheduling adjustment, but the overall site servicing program remains within expected budget parameters.
The corporation said the costs associated with relocating major infrastructure were included in the provincial childcare grant funding.
“This infrastructure work is a necessary part of preparing the site for long-term community use,” said Dumas.
“By securing provincial funding that includes these extraordinary site development costs, we are able to unlock the development potential of the property while minimizing the burden on local taxpayers.”
The site was previously considered as a potential location for a new fire hall. CVHC said similar utility relocation and servicing work would have been required if the fire hall had been built there. The corporation said the current project provides an opportunity to address those infrastructure needs using provincial funding rather than local tax dollars.
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