1.2K 
Salsbury Community Society's Co:Here housing project at East 1st and Victoria Drive is nearing completion. Designed by NSDA Architects, the four-storey, 26-unit wood-frame building will provide supportive housing through an intentional co-housing community.
The site is owned by the Grandview Calvary Baptist Church and was used for parking for many years. The building will house a mix of residents paying market-rate prices, in addition to residents of the Grandview-Woodlands neighbourhood who are currently homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless. This model is meant to help address the need for low income housing in the community while fostering stronger social ties.
This LEED Gold building with a total floor area of approximately 1,800 square meters will have 18 studio apartments, four one-bedroom apartments, and four two-bedroom apartments. The main level will include a communal kitchen, dining room, living room and meditation space, a guest room, and counselling and office spaces. A number of energy-saving features are incorporated into the design, such as solar shading, low glazing percentages, and tall, narrow windows. Stormwater will be collected into rain barrels and used for garden irrigation. Low flush toilets and low flow fixtures will help reduce water usage.
The public realm will be enhanced with planters, public seating, widened sidewalks along 1st Avenue, and improved pedestrian crossing signals at the intersection. With assembly of the below-grade parking level complete, the building's structural shape is now evident. Scaffolding wraps the exterior as the windows are applied to each elevation, with wood finish and durable metal roofs set to give the development's its physical face.
Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
