After 25 years of planning, building of The Beachlands seaside community officially began on Feb. 12.
The $1.2 billion project is expected to inject 10,500 new jobs and more than 2,850 homes in Colwood over 15 years.
The project is a partnership between the City of Colwood, Seacliff Properties and Reliance Properties.
The community of Colwood has been watching the project’s development with eager eyes, Mayor Doug Kobayashi said in a news release.
“Colwood worked with the development team to advance the vision of making The Beachlands a vibrant seaside community that prioritizes health and wellness, including incredible connections to new parks and trails, places to enjoy food, arts, culture, and social connections.”
Initial construction will include a 12,000-square-foot presentation center and two multi-family buildings, adding 181 homes.
The presentation centre is due to finish construction in the summer of 2025, with the residential units expected the next summer.
The Beachlands construction will act as a multiplier on the economy and drive job growth, according to Jon Stovell, president and CEO of Reliance.
“While The Beachlands will fulfill some of the desperate need for homes – including missing middle housing geared to families – housing in the area and BC remains in short supply to meet the high population demands now and in the future,” Stovell said.
The Beachlands has been on the Colwood Official Community Plan since 1990 and sits on a 134-acre site, with the ocean just over a kilometre away.
Georgia Desjardins, director of development at Seacliff Properties, said potential buyers are already inquiring about opportunities.
“There’s an allure to coastal living. The Beachlands will offer a truly unique and elevated West Coast experience,” Desjardins said.
READ MORE: Royal Beach no more: Colwood development rebrands as the Beachlands
