Burnaby Housing Authority gets the ball rolling on its first two rental projects | Daily Hive

October 2025 concept of the new rental housing complex at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Newcombe Street. (Burnaby Housing Authority)

Burnaby Housing Authority (BHA) has taken a major step forward, advancing its first two development projects that together will deliver a combined total of 387 new secured purpose-built rental homes.

Newly established by the City of Burnaby, the BHA serves as the municipal government’s dedicated housing development and delivery arm, created to accelerate the creation of affordable, non-market, and market rental housing. Previously, this was planned and delivered under municipal departments.

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The BHA is responsible for planning, developing, and operating new housing projects, as well as acquiring and assembling land for future developments that respond to community needs. It is also tasked with overseeing project design and construction.

The first proposal, now in the rezoning application stage, targets a site at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Newcombe Street near the border with New Westminster — where the BHA plans to build 204 new affordable and market rental homes. The project features two six-storey buildings with shared indoor and outdoor amenities, including patios, community gardens, and landscaped green spaces.

The second project, located near the intersection of Marine Drive and Byrnepark Drive in the Edmonds area, will add 183 rental townhomes in partnership with local developer Mosaic Homes. The development includes a mix of affordable and market units, with ground-oriented two- and three-bedroom homes designed specifically for families. This project is in the building permit application stage.

“Our mission is to deliver inclusive housing solutions that meet the needs of Burnaby residents. These proposals help move that work forward in a meaningful way,” said said John McEown, CEO of the Burnaby Housing Authority, in a statement.

Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley added, “These Burnaby Housing Authority projects represent thoughtful, people-centred approaches to housing. They demonstrate the kind of collaborative work required to expand housing options while maintaining livability.”

Although the BHA functions as an independent municipal corporation, it maintains a close partnership with the City of Burnaby to ensure its initiatives align with broader municipal objectives. It has a board of directors comprised of both industry professionals and municipal representation.

During the process that led to the creation of the BHA, it was noted that the entity is designed to be both strategically guided and operationally nimble. This allows the BHA to act with the agility and efficiency of a private developer, while upholding strong public accountability and the municipal government’s goals.

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