Okanagan Falls will soon be home to a 26 unit – three-storey apartment building constructed for independent seniors. Located at 5081 8th Avenue Okanagan Falls.

Members of the three-way partnership between the provincial government, Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and South Skaha Housing Society dug into the ground with shovels, Friday afternoon at 2.

“It was kind of strange that this was the only community in the South Okanagan… That doesn’t have any seniors residence, of this nature. So it was long overdue,” area director Tom Siddon said.

Siddon pointed out the project was first floated 13 years ago, and was almost defeated entirely before finally coming to fruition this year.

BC Housing is providing $7.2 million in funding for the complex, which will be operated by the South Skaha Housing Society.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen also waived development cost charges of $109,000, covered building permit fees with a grant-in-aid donation of $21,165, and gave the property a 10-year property tax exemption.

With files from Castanet