A new apartment building for Belleville was announced on Thursday.
Representatives with Suite Home Living by Staikos as well as members of the City of Belleville, including Mayor Neil Ellis, were part of the announcement.
“Today we’re announcing the beginning of a new chapter in our history,” George Staikos, owner & vice president of Suite Home Living by Staikos, said in a speech.
“Under our newest brand, Suite Home Living, we are building our first major residential rental community, Riverview Residences, which you see being built here today.”
The new building is being built north of Belleville in the Caniff Mills development on Wims Way. The building will be seven storeys tall and will feature 68 rental units.
Design of the building was completed by Arcadis Architects with the assembly and construction being delivered through Stubbies Precast.
Smart technology is also being implemented into the building through SmartOne.
It’s one of two buildings being built in that location. Staikos says he expects the second building to be bigger than the first one.
“These are not luxury condominiums that will sit empty or be speculated on and flipped, they’re real rental units for real people who need a place to live,” Staikos said in his speech.
Owner & vice president of Suite Home Living by Staikos, George Staikos, delivering a speech in front of the site of a new apartment building being constructed in Canniff Mills north of Belleville. Staikos is joined by members of the City of Belleville and building partners. October 26, 2023. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
Speaking with Quinte News following his speech, Staikos said it’s the company’s first endeavour into rental properties.
“We’ve traditionally been building single family homes, some townhomes recently as well, but we saw so much demand for rentals and I think this is something that’s needed across the country and across the province. So we decided that now’s the time to lean in,” Staikos tells Quinte News.
He explained how the location stood out as a place to build a new apartment building.
“We’ve been building here for years, and it’s very close to places of employment,” Staikos said.
“It’s on the north side of Belleville, very close to North Front Street and all the restaurants and shops in the area and very accessible to the 401. So for people who maybe want to live here but work say in a neighbouring city, it’s very easy. It’s an easy commute.”
Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis says having the new housing units is well-needed.
“As we know there’s a housing shortage … we all know in the news, Ontario alone needs housing and Belleville is growing so we need the housing also,” Ellis tells Quinte News.
There is no firm date on completion of the building but the hope is to have construction wrap up before the end of 2024.
