Workers, families, and seniors in Prince Rupert have 40 new rental homes available following the official opening of the Estrella apartment building on March 26, 2026. Located at 511 W. 9th Ave., the new building was delivered through BC Builds, a provincial program designed to speed up the construction of housing for middle-income earners.
The project, which is operated by the Aurora Housing Society, addresses local demand for housing by supporting employees in key sectors, including health care, education, port operations, and logistics. To ensure affordability, 30 percent of the units, or 12 homes, are offered at 20 percent below market rental rates. This exceeds the affordability requirements set by the provincial program.
The development was made possible through over $14 million in combined government funding. This includes a $10.7 million loan from the federal government through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, along with a $4.1 million grant from the Province through BC Housing. The City of Prince Rupert also supported the initiative by leasing the land for the building to the non-profit operator for a nominal fee of $1 per year over a 60-year term.
Construction crews utilized an innovative modular approach to complete the building quickly, moving from concept to construction in significantly less time than traditional projects. The building components were manufactured off-site in Manitoba and were assembled on the Prince Rupert site in under a week. The project represents a portion of the provincial government’s broader $19-billion housing investment, which has helped deliver or initiate construction on nearly 550 homes in the North Coast Regional District since 2017.
