Railtown Housing Project FAQ
The Railtown Flats project at the foot of Baker Street broke ground in March 2026 and construction crews have been busy laying the foundation for the 55-unit development.
Frequently Asked Questions for Railtown Housing Project
1. What is the Workforce Housing Project?
Railtown Flats is a six-storey, 55-unit residential building located in Railtown, specifically designed to address the critical staffing and housing shortages in Nelson. Following zoning guidelines in the Railtown District at the west end of Baker Street, the project follows the guidelines established during the Railtown Neighborhood Action Plan completed a few years ago. There will be one floor of commercial space and five floors of residential, featuring a mix of studio, one bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. 11 of the 55 units will be partially subsidized, while the remaining units will be leased at market rates.
2. Who is building and operating the housing?
The project is being operated by the Railtown Housing Society created by the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce in August of 2024. The Chamber donated the land required for the housing project by subdividing the gravel parking lot at the west end of the Chamber of Commerce building in February 2025. The project is being moved forward by the Railtown Housing Society Board of Directors.
The RHS has entered a construction contract with Pac Western Builders of Nelson who is responsible for delivering the project on behalf of the RHS
3. Who is eligible to live in these units?
The project is partially funded by BC Builds and through a long-term forgivable mortgage and through CMHC (Canada Mortgage & Housing Apartment Construction Loan Program. The project must comply with rules and regulations in place with those agencies.
The 55 units are meant for key employees, new hires, and employees in the local workforce struggling to find rentals. Under the funding model of BC Builds, the project aims to house middle-income British Columbians—such as teachers, nurses, transit operators, construction workers, small business owners, service workers and employees in the Greater Nelson Area.
Primary Criteria for rental units will be as follows:
Preference will be given to employees of Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce Businesses
- Employment: You must be employed full-time (minimum 30 hours per week) by an employer in the Greater Nelson area.
- You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (or have a PR application in progress).
- Units will be made available to the general apartment rental market if the units are not filled with eligible employees from the catchment area or from West Kootenay employers.
4. Why is this project necessary for Nelson?
The Chamber has long supported housing projects in the community. From private sector investment, student housing at 10th Street and Silver King campuses subsidized housing such as the SHARE Housing Herridge Place to projects operated by Nelson Cares. The Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce is developing 55 units of workforce housing on under utilized property next to its building in the Railtown district.
The six-storey project is located at the west end of 91 Baker Street on land owned by the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce. The current gravel parking area is being subdivided and donated for construction. Once complete, the building will be owned and operated by Railtown Housing Society, which was created by the chamber specifically for this project to address the need for local workforce housing.
This unique project will be an essential addition to our business community, “Recruiting and retaining staff is extremely challenging due to Nelson’s lack of purpose-built rental apartments and a zero percent vacancy rate
The chamber of commerce and its economic development partners have been hearing the message loud-and-clear for several years, spurring an active search for opportunities to construct additional workforce housing to assist regional businesses. Workforce housing has been at the top of the chamber’s strategic plan in recent years.
5. How does someone apply to live in the building?
The Railtown Housing Society is developing an application process and online portal over the summer. The project is expected to be completed for occupancy in November of 2027. As the portal and application process is opened in September of 2026, you can monitor Chamber and RHS social media updates @discovernelson on Facebook and Instagram
6. Where is the project located?
Railtown Flats (85 Baker Street) is located right next to the heritage CP Station owned and operated by the chamber of commerce at the West end of Baker in the Railtown District. It is walking distance to all shops and services in the downtown core, and less than three minutes to the regional transit exchange on Victoria Street. There is shopping and services literally across the street and within Railtown, and a quick walk or bike ride to all of the amenities, patios, restaurants and shops and services in the downtown core.
7. When will the building be completed and ready for move-in?
The Railtown Flats Workforce Housing Project started construction in March of 2026. The estimated time for completion is 18 months. Projected occupancy is November of 2027.
8. What types of units will be available?
The apartment layouts include 55 rental units’ studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom suites for lease to employees in the greater nelson area. Each floor has the following:
- 3 two-bedroom units (total of 15 for the building), all at 907 square feet
- 6 one-bedroom units (total of 30 for the building), all at 605 square feet
- 2 studio units (total of 10 for the building), all at 333 square feet
There is also commercial space available for lease on the main floor
9. How are rents determined?
Unlike traditional affordable housing programs, BC Builds is not a fully subsidy-based program. Instead, it increases new rental supply with rents geared towards middle-income individuals and families. Rental rates will be determined through an analysis of incomes, rents, and development costs within the community. That means rents will differ from community to community
Rates have been determined through an assessment by a rental appraisal comparing units currently on the market in the Greater Nelson Area. These rents have been approved by BC Builds and CMHC as part of the loan agreement to ensure the sustainability of the financing and ability to service debt
Rental Rates for Railtown Workforce Housing Project
Market Rents Below Market
Studio $1,500 Studio $1,200
1 Bdrm $2,100 1 Bdrm $1,680
2 Bdrm $2,250 2 Bdrm $1,800
10. Who should be contacted for more information or leasing inquiries?
A more formal website or landing page with leasing details is being developed over the summer
The project will begin to take names and contact information of interested individuals in September.
General inquiries can be made to tom@discovernelson.com
