Malachi Tohill, MP Dick Harris, MLA Shirley Bond, Mayor Shari Green and MLA Mike Morris cut the ribbon outside the Victoria Towers – photo 250News

Prince George B.C.- It was a day nearly three years in the making.   Reps from all three levels of government were on hand to  officially open the Victoria Towers, the largest public housing project in Prince George.

The Province bought the building  in October of 2012,  about a year after  the 93 residents  of the apartment building were forced from their homes by a fire.

The purchase price and the renovations  cost  just under $15 million dollars, with $1.5 million  in financial assistance coming from the Federal Government as well.

The refurbishing of the building  meant more than  repairs to smoke, water and fire damaged apartments,  renovators found many surprises including a snake that was living in the walls and bats that had  infested the  building.

Today, 91 new units, including a three bedroom family unit that is fully wheel chair accessible, are part of the  affordable  housing mix offered by BC Housing.

“It’s a pretty basic thing when people want a home” says  MLA Shirley Bond “They want a home that is affordable,  a home that is accessible and  one that is functional”.

36 of the units are already occupied as  some residents moved in as early as March  of this year.

The residents are happy with the new digs,  saying they like the fact there is increased security,  as  access is by key card and only to the floor of the resident’s apartment, the  building manager lives on site,  and soon there will be a special office  in the building that will offer  housing and employment support.