Gitxaala Nation gets to work on Kootenay Avenue Housing project

The start  of site preparation is underway on Kootenay Avenue

Just shy of two months to the day of their announcement for a townhouse development in Prince Rupert on Kootenay Avenue, the Gitxaala Nation has put the shovels into the ground.

Work on the site for Harbour View Townhouses launched last week as site preparation activity got underway. 

Another stretch of the work underway along Kootenay Avenue

In August, Gitxaala officials hosted a blessing ceremony on the site, outlining the details towards the development, the work is being watched over by the Prince Rupert Indigenous Housing Society. 

An information release from Friday provides some additional background towards the sixteen million dollar housing initiative .

“We are pleased to be partnering with BC Housing to deliver 20 units of housing on the traditional and unceded territory of the Gitxaała Nation. The Gitxaała Nation is honoured to support these initiatives that will benefit our members who live away from home. PRIHS is setting the standard for how we can effectively work together for our nation members.” — Brenna Innes, President, Prince Rupert Indigenous Housing Society and Councillor, Gitxaała Nation Elected Governing Council

Once completed in the summer of 2025, the site will be home to twenty units of townhouse housing, the units will range from two to four bedrooms, it will be used for housing for Gitxaala Nation members living in the Prince Rupert area.

The project is just the latest initiative taken on by area First Nations to address the shortage of housing for their members in Prince Rupert.  

Earlier this month the Lax Kw'alaams Band hosted a ground breaking ceremony at their 11th Avenue East work site.

Metlakatla First Nation officials were among the first to address some of the housing needs in the community; that through their Seventh Avenue East Cedar Village complex, that iconic spot on the Prince Rupert landscape opened its doors in November of 2019.

At the most recent Prince Rupert Council Session of October 10th, Council received the first bit of work towards a Nisga'a led apartment proposal for Hays Cove and Frederick, the second attempt to try and develop that site for housing.

All of the area First Nations have noted they remain  active in exploring other housing opportunities.

Further items of interest from the Gitxaala Nation can be reviewed through their social media stream

More notes on Housing in Prince Rupert can be explored through our archive page. 

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.