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With 80% of homes at below-market rates, the newly completed rental development in Prince Rupert shortened delivery timelines using off-site modular construction to respond to urgent housing needs
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PRINCE RUPERT, British Columbia, March 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new 40-unit modular rental housing development is now complete in Prince Rupert, delivering urgently-needed homes for local workers, with eighty percent of the homes offered at below-market rates. Estrella, developed by NorthStar Development in partnership with Aurora Housing Society, the City of Prince Rupert, and the Province through BC Housing’s BC Builds program, has officially opened and is now welcoming applicants.
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The purpose-built rental building is the first new apartment building developed in the City of Prince Rupert in the last 30 years, and provides housing options for people working in key local sectors, including healthcare, port and logistics, and education, to support workforce stability and the continued growth of the city. Prince Rupert faces a significant housing shortage driven by economic growth from these core industries, which have been attracting workers but straining the existing supply. This has led to the need for 1,289 new units, according to recent estimates.
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Designed and delivered using modular construction, Estrella demonstrates how alternative building methods can accelerate housing delivery while maintaining quality and durability to address these needs in northern BC communities. Homes were constructed off-site in a controlled manufacturing environment, improving efficiency, reducing construction waste, and minimizing on-site disruption. Modular components were then transported to Prince Rupert and installed, significantly compressing the on-site construction schedule compared to traditional builds, while addressing a shortage of local available trades. This use of modular construction allowed NorthStar to build with cost and schedule certainty, directly resulting in their ability to deliver affordable housing.
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“Estrella shows what is possible when innovation is applied to real housing needs and the realities of smaller remote communities,” said Jeff Brown, Executive Vice President at NorthStar Development. “By using modular construction, we were able to deliver new rental homes faster and more efficiently, while maintaining the standards expected for long-term rental housing. This model is especially well-suited to communities like Prince Rupert, where timely delivery and workforce housing are critical.”
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This significant amount of new, affordable homes at Estrella supports accessibility for local workers and helps address housing pressures that impact employee retention across essential services. “For many people working in Prince Rupert, finding stable rental housing has been a real challenge,” explains Glenn Pollock, Director of Aurora Housing Society. “Estrella helps close that gap by providing safe, functional, and modern homes that support individuals and families who are essential to the community by creating housing people can rely on.”
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