The doors finally flew open Monday on a new $38 million seniors affordable housing complex in Steveston.
After several years in the making, the 144-unit Maple Residences was officially opened by a collection of local politicians at the former Army, Navy and Air Forces (ANAF) 284 site on Chatham Street, close to No. 1 Road.
Thirty of the units of are set aside for assisted seniors' rental housing, while the remaining 114 will be seniors' independent living units. All of them will be managed and operated by the Steveston 284 Seniors' Housing Society.
The federal and provincial governments contributed a combined total of almost $4 million for the construction of the 30 seniors rental housing suites.
The B.C. government also provided approximately $34.4 million in financing. ANAF 284 provided the land, valued at approximately $8.3 million, and received a brand new clubhouse on the site in return.
"It's wonderful to celebrate the fruition of all our hard work with today's opening of The Maple Residences," said Chuck McDonald, president of Steveston Unit 284 of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Association.
"I'd like to thank all the partners on this project. By working with us you helped our vision of safe, affordable housing for Richmond seniors become a reality."
Helping to open the facility was Richmond MP Alice Wong - the Minister of State for Seniors - who said the project will "improve the overall housing conditions for seniors," and has helped "stimulate the local economy and create jobs."
Steveston MLA John Yap said it was important for the B.C. government to make seniors a "top priority."
"I am excited that with The Maple Residences, seniors in Richmond will now have greater access to government-funded care. The 144-unit housing facility is a beautiful environment and will make a great home for our senior population," added Yap.
Before Monday's happy and civil opening, the Chatham Street site had been the source of much controversy since the landowners - ANAF 284 - became embroiled in February, 2009 in their own bitter internal power struggle which ended up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills.
