STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Vancouver, BC

REGION
Lower Mainland

CLIENT
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society

PROJECT PARTNERS
BC Housing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
City of Vancouver

PROJECT TEAM
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
WCPG Construction

BUILDING SIZE
80 shelter beds
25 supportive units
143 rental homes
2 social enterprise commercial units

PROJECT COST
$145 million

COMPLETION DATE
March 2026

Located at East Hastings Street, this new development is named Ho’-kee-melh Kloshe Lum, meaning “To Gather, Good Spirits” in the Chinook Jargon. The development prioritizes Indigenous residents and incorporates design elements to foster culture and community.

M’akola Development Services (MDS) worked as the development consultant for BC Housing and the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society to build a range of housing options for people of all ages struggling to find a place to call home. It includes 80 safe shelter beds for people and families experiencing homelessness, 25 studios and one-bedrooms for people who are ready to move from the shelter to more independent living, 87 affordable rental homes for people and families with lower incomes (one, two and three-bedroom units), 56 market rental homes to help pay for the cost of the more affordable units, and 2 social enterprise space operated by the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society. The building also includes courtyard access, a rooftop multi-purpose and landscaped area, and a multi-level day centre with a range of services available, such as a dedicated cultural gathering space, lounge areas, a gym, an art studio and counselling spaces.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Site analysis and feasibility
• Planning and policy analysis
• Funding applications
• Site and land-use planning
• Operations planning
• Project management

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Burnaby, BC

REGION
Lower Mainland

CLIENT
Progressive Housing Society

PROJECT TEAM
Blue Green Architecture
Jen-Col Construction

BUILDING SIZE
14 housing units including 10 assisted-living spaces and 4 supported-living spaces

PROJECT COST
$7.6 million

COMPLETION DATE
October 2025

MDS worked as a development consultant with Progressive Housing Society to develop an affordable housing project at 7492 Holly Street, Burnaby BC. This project includes a total of 14 units of non-market housing for people at risk of homelessness who would benefit from an enhanced mental-health and physical health-care program.

Our team supported the Society in the demolition of the existing 5-bedroom single family home and led the subdivision of the site, separating the Society’s parcel into two, allowing the construction of two separate single-family homes.  

Each building was designed to include 5 units of upstairs affordable and fully accessible co-living style housing with supports that will be operated by Progressive Housing Society and Fraser Health Authority. The upstairs suites include an elevator lift to reach both floors. They also include a cellar suite with 2 units of subsidized independent living. This project meets the growing demand for such services, ensuring that more individuals can access the supportive environment they need.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Owner’s representative services
• Local government approvals
• Funding applications, management, and reporting
• Procurement and consultant management
• Construction administration
• Project management services

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Castlegar, BC

REGION
Interior

CLIENT
Kootenay Society for Community Living

PROJECT TEAM
Christine Ross Architecture
North Mountain Construction

BUILDING SIZE
13 units

PROJECT COST
$7.4 million

COMPLETION DATE
April 2025

M’akola Development Services (MDS) partnered with Kootenay Society for Community Living (KSCL) for the design and construction of the Eagles Estates affordable housing project located at 1101 2nd Street in Castlegar, BC.  

The project is a three-storey, wood-frame, residential development, consisting of 8 affordable housing units for low- to mid-income individuals and a 5-bedroom care home for KSCL’s client population. The 5-bedroom care facility on the ground floor will serve adults with developmental disabilities, while the top two floors will include 8 one-bedroom apartment units, with one fully accessible unit and three adaptable units.  

Design of the project required coordination of CLBC’s care facility building requirements and the BC Housing Design Guidelines. The project also required coordination of multiple funders – BC Housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Columbia Basin Trust. MDS also facilitated a land swap with the municipality to advance the previously stalled project.  

The M’akola Development Services team was responsible for the feasibility analysis, business case development, site planning, project management through construction, and one year warranty review stages. 

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Feasibility analysis and studies
• Site due diligence    
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Capital and operating budgets 
• Design team procurement   
• Construction administration
• Project management services

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Courtenay, BC

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
Wachiay Friendship Centre

PROJECT TEAM
MacDonald Hagarty Architects
Kinetic Construction

BUILDING SIZE
40 affordable housing units

Target Population
Urban Indigenous people

PROJECT COST
$16 million

COMPLETION DATE
March 2025

MDS provided development consulting services for the Wachiay Friendship Centre Society (WFC), who work to support the urban Indigenous population in Courtenay. The now finished affordable housing project is owned by the WFC and was built on land that they owned and used as a parking lot adjacent to the current Friendship Centre.

The housing development is a five-storey, wood frame building with a total of 40 studio and 1-bedroom units, including an indoor amenity space. Of the 32 one-bedroom units, 9 are fully accessible, and the remaining 23 are adaptable to meet target tenant needs. MDS acted as the primary point of contact and owner’s representative throughout the development. MDS helped WFC procure a full design team and advance designs, successfully receive multiple sources of funding, prepare and receive re-zoning and the required development permits, and oversee construction and handover to WFC for operations.

The project was made financial feasible through funding from BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund, CMHC’s SEED and Co Investment programs, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund, and the Comox Valley Regional District’s Homelessness Support Service Funding. The project offers a range of affordability options from deeply subsidized and rent geared-to income to near market units.

MDS SERVICES OFFERED

• Site and land use planning
• Site due diligence
• Local government approvals
• Partnership development
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Capital and operating budgets
• Procurement and consultant management
• Project management

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Victoria, BC

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
Dawson Heights Housing

PROJECT TEAM
Jensen Group Architects
Heatherbrae Builders

BUILDING SIZE
85 units

PROJECT COST
$33 million

COMPLETION DATE
February 2025

M’akola Development Services (MDS) supported Dawson Heights Housing Ltd. to redevelop eight senior’s cottages in Saanich, BC. The project replaced the existing cottages with The Woodlands, a four storey, 85-unit building that expands Dawson Heights Housing Ltd.’s capacity for providing housing and services to seniors.

Designed with accessibility in mind, the building features adaptable units that can be modified as residents’ health needs change. This enables aging in place by providing a continuity of connection and care as seniors age. The project is located within the Shelbourne Corridor in Saanich, in an area that is conducive for further development of seniors’ housing. Located with a bus stop right at the doorstep and parks within 1,000 metres, the building also makes it easy for residents to stay active, connected, and engaged in their neighbourhood. The project was designed to ensure that natural areas around the development are protected.

The Woodlands was made possible through the shared commitment of federal, provincial, and municipal governments to fund affordable housing. Together, they contributed over $13M to the project, an investment that secures long‑term affordability for those seniors most in need of support.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Feasibility analysis and studies
• Site due diligence
• Procurement and consultant management
• Funding applications
• Local government approvals
• Community engagement
• Project management services

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Victoria, BC

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
Pacifica Housing Advisory Association

PROJECT TEAM
Christine Lintott Architects
TL Housing Solutions

BUILDING SIZE
88 housing units
59 childcare spaces

PROJECT COST
$57 million

COMPLETION DATE
October 2024

M’akola Development Services worked as the development consultant for Pacifica Housing to develop The Ferns, an affordable rental housing development located in Victoria, BC.

This mixed-use development is comprised of two buildings that contain 88 housing units, an on-site daycare, underground parking, and bike storage. In between the buildings is a landscaped courtyard that connects the community. The property is located close to transit, shopping centres, parks and the Galloping Goose Trail – providing residents with convenient access to nearby destinations and services.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Capital and operating budgets
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Procurement and consultant management
• Design phase management
• Local government approvals
• Construction administration
• Project management

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Kitimaat Village, BC

REGION
North

CLIENT
Haisla Nation Council

PROJECT TEAM
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
Yellowridge Construction

BUILDING SIZE
23 housing units

PROJECT COST
$9.1 million

COMPLETION DATE
September 2024

M’akola Development Services (MDS) partnered with Haisla Nation to explore housing options for their Members living on and off the Traditional Territory of Haisla Nation. This involved collaboration with Haisla staff on community outreach and design. MDS staff employed a multi-pronged community engagement and consultation approach, working closely with Haisla Nation Council to reach Members across BC through focus groups, surveys and community forums.

The result of this research and engagement was the design of a new 23-unit, three-story apartment building on-reserve in Kitamaat Village. The building consists of 5 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom, and 6 three-bedroom apartments as well as ground floor community space, and ample shared deck/outdoor spaces. 

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Need and demand study; population projections
• Housing and community infrastructure assessment and planning
• Stakeholder engagement and consultation
• Land use planning under Haisla’s land code
• Project management services
• Invoice and contract management
• Operations support

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Terrace, BC

REGION
North

CLIENT
Ksan Society

PROJECT TEAM
Boni Maddison Architects
Golden Globe Construction

BUILDING SIZE
22 housing units

PROJECT COST
$12.7 million

COMPLETION DATE
August 2024

MDS partnered with the Ksan House Society (Ksan) as development consultant for the design and construction of Ella’s Place, a 22-unit second stage housing development in Terrace. Building on Ksan’s 30+ years of supporting women and vulnerable populations, and its adjacent transitional housing facility, the project expands its services by providing second stage housing for women and children at risk of violence.

Funded through BC Housing’s Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Women and Children Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, the development includes a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, along with common amenity and programming spaces. The project offers residents up to two years of supportive housing to promote healing, resilience, and transition to independent living. Construction began in 2022, and the project was fully operational in 2024.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Feasibility analysis and studies
• Project management services
• Local government approvals
• Partnership development and coordination
• Expression of Interest submission (Women’s Transition Housing Fund)