It’s taken years of planning, rezoning, and navigating red tape – but next month, construction officially begins on a 95-unit affordable housing project that Luther Court hopes will reshape how Saanich lives together.
The intergenerational complex, led by Luther Court Society, will rise at 3781 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. and connect to the organization’s existing facility via a covered walkway.
Replacing a smaller 27-unit building, the new five-storey development adds 68 net new homes to one of Greater Victoria’s most in-demand rental corridors.
Construction is set to begin in early August, with move-in projected for August 2027.
“It’s been an idea for about nine years,” said Kevin Harter, CEO of Luther Court Society. “But for the last seven, it’s been real – applications to BC Housing, calls, working with Saanich to get the subdivision set up and rezoning.”
After years of behind-the-scenes work, the reality of breaking ground is starting to sink in for those behind the project.
"You spend so much time talking about it, and then you come out here, a building’s missing, and it becomes real," Harter told Saanich News. "Here’s where we’re at – and here’s where we’re going.”
The building will include 15 studios, 75 one-bedroom units, and five two-bedroom homes, along with two levels of underground parking.
It’s designed to serve low- to moderate-income tenants of all ages.
Half the units will rent for 30 per cent of a tenant’s income, 20 per cent will fall under deep subsidy at around $500 per month, and the remaining 30 per cent will rent at market rate – projected to hover around $1,650 for a one-bedroom, according to Harter. Final rates are set by the BC Housing Management Commission.
“There is some real affordability built into this,” Harter said. “Whether you’re on a fixed income or a younger adult trying to find your footing, this is meant to be a place where you can thrive – not just survive.”
Funded through a $15.6 million investment from the province of B.C. via BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund, the $50 million project also includes a $198,000 contribution from the District of Saanich’s affordable housing trust fund.
"This project aligns with our goals of providing housing for people at all life stages that provides a high quality of life," said Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock.
Construction will begin with excavation for the underground parking before vertical construction gets underway.
The finished development will also feature more than 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor community space designed to bring residents together.
For Luther Court, the intergenerational model is nothing new.
The organization plans to make a number of studio suites available to students, continuing a legacy that began when the society purchased a home from the Lutheran Church of the Cross to house UVic students.
“It means a lot,” Harter said. “We want to intentionally bring younger and older adults into shared space – not just by proximity, but through programs that create real, everyday interaction. That’s what this project is about.”
Applications for subsidized units will be handled through BC Housing’s registry.
