Freemasons are working with B.C. Housing to build affordable rental housing in Vancouver.

The apartments will be part of a new Vancouver Masonic Centre north of Broadway. Jack Barr, president of the Vancouver Masonic Centre Association, said that it has become too costly to maintain the fraternity’s assembly hall, built in 1974 at 1495 West 8th Avenue.

After exploring options with nonprofits and private developers, the association decided to partner with B.C. Housing to redevelop the almost 24,000-square-foot property just east of Granville Street.

“They’re providing the funding; we’re providing the land,” Barr told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview.

The current centre is a four-storey, almost windowless concrete building. It will be replaced by a new building with the same number of floors facing West 7th Avenue.

The new centre will be connected to an 18-storey building facing West 8th Avenue. The building will have 159 units of market and nonmarket rental homes. Almost 70 percent of the homes, or 108 units, will be rented to people who cannot afford market rents.

Barr explained that B.C. Housing will not give rental subsidies to nonmarket tenants. “They’ve provided us funding on the understanding and the commitment that we will provide housing at these levels,” he said.

The project is subject to an application with the City of Vancouver to rezone the commercial site for comprehensive development. The development includes a new restaurant on West 7th Avenue.

“This has been a project that’s been, you know, over three years in the making, dealing close with the city, dealing with B.C. Housing, trying to give back to the community, which is what Freemasons do,” Barr said.

The fourth floor of the present Masonic centre is rented out for wedding receptions and corporate events. The top floor of the redeveloped centre will also be available for public use.