Reactions to BC Builds, government’s long-awaited program to build more rental housing for middle-income British Columbians, vary.

Broadly, BC Builds sees government team up with non-profits, local governments, public agencies, First Nations and community groups to identify underused land. From there, funding and financing will support the construction of housing targeted to those who have a household income between roughly $84,000 and $190,000, subject to one-time income-testing. BC Builds projects in partnership with non-profits and First Nations must include at least 20 per cent of units renting at 20 per cent below market.

Counting all existing and contemplated BC Builds projects, some more than 4,000 units could become available by 2026.

While this figure appears modest on paper, government officials starting with Premier David Eby said BC Builds is designed to scale up and represents just one piece of a broader response to the housing crisis.

Alex Hemingway, senior economist and public finance policy analyst with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said B.C. needs more housing supply generally and more non-market housing specifically.

“This is a program that can help deliver that,” he said. “But does the scale of the program match the scale of the housing crisis? No, it doesn’t.”

Hemingway added that the provincial government has taken what he called “bold steps” on housing policy in recent months. “But to match the scale of the challenge, we need to go bigger and faster still.”

RELATED: B.C. launches new agency to build middle-income rental housing quicker

Current market conditions, such as high interest rates and construction costs, create the risk of seeing even less housing units being built by the private market, Hemingway said.

“So I think it makes sense to bring forward a program like this, to step it to make sure projects are getting off the ground right now by using low-cost public financing,” he said.

But the backlog is huge, he added, pointing to a recent estimate from Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. It estimates that 610,000 additional housing units would be required on top of the current “business-as-usual” development patterns to return British Columbia to its affordability levels from the early 2000s.

A government report released in December 2023 projected that two major housing bills passed last fall would create between 216,000 and 293,000 new units with Premier David Eby citing a projection of 250,000 new units, not counting other current and future housing legislation, including BC Builds.

RELATED: Political opposition in B.C. tears down housing models

Tuesday’s BC Builds announcement by Eby unfolded against the backdrop of second Housing Summit organized by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. The event running Feb. 13-14 brings together municipal leaders and others to discuss the recent raft of housing legislation and housing generally.

UBCM President Coun. Trish Mandewo said one of the biggest challenges facing B.C. is the lack of homes that middle income residents can afford.

“BC Builds will take aim at this issue and that’s a good thing,” she said. “As B.C.’s population continues to see significant growth, the questions that will be on many minds will concern how scalable the program is, how many units it can deliver, and how quickly.”

Writing on the social media platform X, (formerly Twitter), BC United Leader Kevin Falcon called BC Builds disappointing.

RELATED: Housing the next 1 million residents: B.C. plan has gaps, mayors say

“Recycling old funding for another government-knows-best photo op won’t build new homes,” he wrote. “British Columbians are looking for real action and results on housing. BCU will fix it and restore the dream of home ownership.”

Responding to a media question about Falcon’s tweet, Eby called Falcon “one of the architects of the housing crisis” by failing to take the steps which his government has taken to curb speculation and “use the power to government” to speed up the construction of affordable housing.

“I welcome him to be first person to tour through the housing that we are going to be building for middle-income British Columbians, so he can see the impact that is going to have.”

BC United’s Karin Kirkpatrick, shadow minister for housing and childcare, said the announcement under-delivered.

“There was much fanfare coming up to this…in terms of this being the magic bullet and it doesn’t seem like very much,” she said. “If they are making a promise of 4,000 units in the next three, four years, that’s not even going to make a dent in our housing crisis.”

Kirkpatrick also wondered if municipalities and construction companies) have the capacity to deliver what BC Builds promises.

“We don’t have enough trades people already, we don’t have enough contractors…and not enough planning staff in all of these municipalities, who have already had a whole bunch of new stuff dumped on them.”

RELATED: B.C. Greens seek change to rental cap for landlords between renters

Criticism also came from the BC Greens, who accused Eby of abandoning British Columbians who struggle the most with costs of living.

“Premier Eby has chosen to support British Columbians with earnings over $85,000 per year, ignoring the desperate reality the majority of British Columbians are facing,” Sonia Furstenau, BC Green Leader said. With this comment, she was referring to the low end of the eligibility threshold for households qualifying for BC Build units. “Where is the support for the truly middle income households, who make up over half of B.C.’s population?”

House Green Leader called BC Build a recycled version of B.C.’s HousingHub, which government billed in 2018 as bringing together different partners developing homes for people with average incomes between $50,000 and $100,000.

“Premier Eby appears to be out of touch with the lived reality of renters across the Province, who need support now, not in 12-18 months, to avoid slipping into homelessness,” he said.

LANGLEY, British Columbia, Oct. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MOXIES is delighted to announce the re-opening of its refurbished location at 8828 - 201 Street, Langley Twp. Elevating the dining experience, Moxies’ menu offers high-quality made-in-house food and drinks created using fresh ingredients. With the recent renovations fully completed, the upscale casual restaurant is perfectly poised to accommodate locals, out-of-town diners, and cocktail connoisseurs with its trademark signature ambiance and top-tier service.

Located in central Langley, the latest rebrand includes a modern colour palette, featuring the use of greenery and natural wood throughout the restaurant. At 8000 square feet, the venue has a light interior space with seating for 300 guests and a 60-seat rooftop patio, ensuring plenty of flexible options are available for any party or private dining event. Led by Operating Partner, Jerome Uy, the locally based Moxies team is looking forward to welcoming guests back to experience their exceptional hospitality in an updated new space.

“With a newly refreshed menu, beautifully bright renovated location, and award-winning hospitality, we are thrilled to share the full re-opening of Moxies Langley," shares Joanne Forrester, President, and COO, “As a big part of the community, we are very excited to reintroduce guests to the Moxies brand, providing an unforgettable and elevated experience."

Director of Culinary and Beverage Chef Brandon Thordarson is excited to bring his passion and knowledge of the brand to the latest revamped location. Chef Brandon has curated a menu of artfully crafted, fresh flavours exclusive to Moxies. Diners can expect an extensive modern menu containing one-of-a-kind, crave-able dishes made in-house daily and exceptional cocktails that look just as delicious as they taste.

Moxies’ globally inspired menu includes standout dishes that the brand is renowned for, including Tuna Sushi Stack, with sushi grade tuna, seasoned rice, avocado, mango, soy ginger glaze, spicy mayo, and seasoned prawn crackers; Thai Curry Laska made with house-made creamy coconut broth, mushrooms, rice noodles, and fresh vegetables; and Chipotle Mango Chicken with house-made chipotle seasoning, ancient grains, seasonal vegetables, avocado and salsa.

Guests can expect a wide selection of margaritas, handcrafted cocktails, and a curated wine list featuring some of BC's finest selections. Happy Hour runs every day with the addition of half-priced bottles of wine on Wednesdays. Drink highlights include the Ginger Peach Smash, Lavender Lemonade, and the renowned, Marky Marg made with Flecha Azul Blanco tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, pineapple syrup & fresh basil.

“I am honoured to be a part of such an exciting change to our restaurant. Having grown up in Langley, Moxies has always been a staple of our community and I can't wait for our team, and our guests to see what's coming next.” says Sean Clary, General Manager, Moxies Langley.

Moxies Langley is located at the Sandman Hotel, near Langley Event Center, Colossus Cineplex Theaters, and the Historic Fort Langley. Moxies will welcome visitors seven days a week and open late on Fridays and Saturdays, with Happy Hour available from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. - Close daily.

For more information, visit www.moxies.com, and follow MOXIES on Instagram, @moxies

About MoxiesMoxies, a premium casual Canadian concept owned by Northland Properties and Dallas Stars proprietor Tom Gaglardi, is well-known for delivering a uniquely stylish and relaxed guest experience through its blend of high-end design, uncompromising food and beverage items, and a friendly, energetic approach to hospitality. The menu at Moxies offers globally inspired flavors with fresh, high-quality ingredients made fresh in-house. Moxies serves lunch, dinner, happy hour, and a late-night menu seven days a week and weekend brunch at over 58 restaurant locations across Canada and in the United States, including Boston, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Scottsdale, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb75698e-a6b3-447b-beb5-57241d3f2c2ahttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42b2309a-adfd-41d9-b186-cf05e3f13dc7https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/101739d9-8bea-44b8-b10d-b8084af3ad16https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f601977d-05f0-4000-a5bf-f50ff6738e0ahttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f69bf06-0b93-4cdd-a84f-0f8c9fe7b8e8

Infrastructure

Highway 1 construction work is well underway on the second leg of a multi-phase project to improve the road and reduce gridlock along a 60-kilometre stretch in the Lower Mainland of B.C.

Crews are presently widening a 10-kilometre stretch of the busy highway between a new interchange being built at 216^th Street in the Township of Langley and an interchange at 264^th Street.

It’s one of four projects planned along Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley through the Sumas Prairie to Chilliwack. Earlier, work was completed on the first leg of the project, which included improving four kilometres of the thoroughfare stretching from 202^nd Street to 216^th Street.

“The Fraser Valley is growing fast, and people need to be able to get to work and back home without facing lengthy commutes,” explains Dave Crebo, communications director at the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI). “The province is taking action to relieve traffic congestion and accommodate more sustainable transportation options.

“We’re adding HOV lanes between 216^th and 264^th roads, a new Glover Road overpass, a new interchange, as well as other improvements.”

The segment of highway is operating at capacity during peak periods and there are vertical clearance issues for commercial vehicles. An interchange configuration at 232^nd Street no longer operates well under current traffic volumes and will only get worse as volumes increase.

The highway is being widened to accommodate eastbound and westbound high occupancy HOV and EV lanes.

Crews are also building a new crossing over Highway 1 at Glover Road. Concrete pouring for the deck has been completed and the span is expected to open this summer.

Further to the east, an existing railway crossing is set to be replaced and at 232^nd Street an interchange will be reconfigured to provide more clearance over the highway. Construction on the interchange project is expected to start this year, with substantial completion set for 2026.

Advance works for the first part of the third leg of the project, which entails improving 13 kilometres of Highway 1 between the 264^th Street interchange and Mt. Lehman Road in Abbotsford, began last fall with tree clearing, soil removal in the median and utility relocation.

More than $2.4 billion has been earmarked for the work, making it one of the most expensive provincial projects in B.C. The SkyTrain Expo Line extension and George Massey Tunnel projects are $4 billion each, the SkyTrain Millennium Line is $2.8 billion and replacement of the Pattullo Bridge is $1.4 billion.

The highway traditionally comes to a bottleneck at 264^th Street every day. One lane will be added in each direction and plans include a truck climbing lane in certain areas along the highway.

“Along with property acquisition, motorists are seeing utility relocation, median soil removal, tree clearing, and preload activities,” says Crebo.

A new interchange slated to be built at 264^th Street is expected to begin by the end of this year. Three teams – Aecon-Norland General Partnership, KEA Fraser Valley Connectors, and Metro Vancouver (Infrastructure) Partnership – have been shortlisted to submit bids on the project.

Other work will include upgrades to an interchange at Mt. Lehman Road and 3.7 kilometres of highway widening, and replacement of the Bradner Road overpass with 3.9 kilometres of highway widening.

The contracts will be going to tender this spring and should be completed in 2029.

The second part of the third leg will include improvements to eight kilometres of Highway 1 from Mt. Lehman Road to Highway 11. The project is presently in the design development stage. Advanced works began last fall and included tree cleaning and relocation of utilities.

Funding for the work has not been estimated and will be confirmed as the project scope is defined.

The project will include adding HOV and EV lanes and bus-on-shoulder lanes in each direction, replacement of the Peardonville Road underpass, and a new interchange at Highway 11.

The final leg of the project is in development and will include improvements to a 17-kilometre stretch from the Highway 11 interchange through the Sumas Prairie into Chilliwack. The plan is to widen the highway. The provincial and federal governments are working with local government and First Nations to develop a regional flood mitigation strategy through the Sumas Prairie.

The scope of the Highway 1 construction project originally entailed three phases but was later expanded to include the fourth phase into Chilliwack.

“This additional phase will ensure infrastructure in the Fraser Valley is more resilient to a changing climate,” Crebo says.

Because the highway is a main thoroughfare, work is being staged to limit the impact of construction on traffic.

“Eighty thousand vehicles a day travel this corridor, and we understand the frustration that a 30-kilometre-long construction zone would cause, which is why the project is being undertaken in four phases,” says Crebo.