Twelve-site housing project is underway
Randy Shore
Sun
Coun. Kim Capri and Mayor Sam Sullivan say projects come with rules to enhance security of neighbourhoods. Photograph by : Ian Smith, Vancouver Sun files
VANCOUVER – It took more than 15 years to assemble the property and three nights of public forums to let everyone have their say, but council finally passed a motion this week to create 1,200 social and supportive housing units on 12 city-owned properties.
“It really is a miracle to have development get underway on all 12 of these sites at the same time,” Mayor Sam Sullivan said.
The City of Vancouver has stepped up with $50 million worth of land and forged a partnership with the provincial housing authority to fast-track design and construction of the buildings.
Half of the buildings could be completed before Vancouver hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics and nearly all will be under construction by then.
“I think this project is going to be the real legacy of the 2010 Olympics,” said Sullivan, who’s made homelessness one of his top priorities since becoming mayor two years ago.
“I have told the federal and provincial governments that Vancouver is going to represent the country [in 2010] and I don’t think you want the world to see what we’ve got right now.”
The mayor’s civil city project to reduce public disorder set a goal of reducing homelessness by 50 per cent before 2010. In 2005, the city’s homeless action plan set a goal of creating 3,600 supportive and transitional housing units over 10 years.
The most recent figures on homelessness estimate over 2,000 live on the streets of Vancouver.
Sullivan said that between this partnership with the province, the purchase of 10 Downtown Eastside hotels and recent federal announcements on housing projects for first nations, Vancouver is close to attaining those goals ahead of schedule.
Other lines of attack such as drug substitution programs, beefed up drug treatment programs and the community court due to open in 2008 should also help reduce the number of people living on the streets, Sullivan said.
“The lesson from New York and other places suggests that you can help people connect with resources through the legal system and reduce homelessness,” he explained.
Although many of the 113 registered speakers at the public forums were concerned housing people with addictions and mental illness outside the Downtown Eastside would spread mayhem to the city’s neighbourhoods, councillors were unanimous in their support of the project.
“These kinds of projects enhance the safety of neighbourhoods,” said Coun. Kim Capri.
When people are properly housed and facilities are staffed 24 hours a day, there is simply more scrutiny, she said.
Many of the people who live in social and supportive housing must agree to certain conditions, such as avoiding drugs and alcohol and taking proper medication as a condition of tenancy, Capri added.
“We know the people of Vancouver support this,” said Sullivan. “We also recognize that housing is in the provincial mandate, but if you want action from the province on this file you have to come to the table with something.”
Something, in this case, is tens of millions of dollars worth of prime urban real estate. City staff believe construction on at least six of the sites will be underway by the end of 2008.
All of the sites will require new construction of buildings with 50 to 120 units, most of them studio apartments with a kitchen and bathroom. Buildings in shopping districts will be built with commercial retail space on the ground floor, which will be leased by the city as a financial investment.
To be eligible, potential tenants must be defined as a single persons in core need, having to pay more than 30 per cent of their gross income for shelter.
ONLINE EXTRA
For an interactive map, visit: www.vancouversun.com
1
505 Abbott St. (at Pender)
Current condition: The former International Village presentation centre is vacant.
Site potential: Up to 120 units could be built under current zoning with retail at street level.
Target population: Priority housing for Downtown Eastside residents of rooming houses and shelters, one-third of the units will be targeted for people with addiction and mental health issues.
2
675-691 East Broadway (at Fraser) Current condition: Building has four tenants, including the Pacific Community Resource Society, which has a lease to 2014.
Site potential: A mix of market and social housing up to 100 units could be built with ground-floor commercial or retail space and a youth services hub.
Target population: Rezoning could allow a high-density tower to be built with up to half the units occupied by youth if the service hub is part of the project.
3
1134 Burrard St. (at Helmcken)
Current condition: One-storey building is occupied by the Directions youth centre, which has a lease to June 2010.
Site potential: Up to 100 studio units and a youth services hub on the first and possibly second floors.
Target population: One-third to one-half of the units could be occupied by youth, referred and supported by youth services.
4
3588-3596 West 16 Ave. (at Dunbar)
Current condition: Commercial building has four tenants with month-to-month tenancy.
Site potential: Retail development on Dunbar Street with 50 studio units.
Target population: One-third to one-half of the units could be occupied by people with mental illness, all units targeted to core-need singles living in Dunbar, Point Grey and Kitsilano.
5
1607-1615 West Seventh Ave. (at Fir)| Current condition: Three lots contain a single one-storey building, tenant is renting.
Site potential: About 70 studio living units could be created with a mental health drop-in centre.
Target population: Talks underway with Motivation Power and Achievement Society to locate in new building with one-third to one-half of the units for people with a mental illness.
6
1050 Expo Blvd. (west of Nelson) Current condition: Irregular site in Concorde Pacific Place is vacant land.
Site potential: Up to 100 studio units.
Target population: Singles living in shelters and downtown hotels, up to half with mental illness or addictions.
7
1233-1251 Howe St.
Current condition: One building with two tenants, leased to 2008 and 2011; longer lease can be bought out.
Site potential: Up to 100 studio units.
Target population: Singles living in shelters and downtown hotels, up to half with mental illness or addictions.
8
Current condition: Site of the former Drake Hotel, to be demolished.
Site potential: Up to 100 studio units with commercial space on the ground floor.
Target population: Singles living in shelters and downtown hotels, up to half with mental illness or addictions.
9
1721-1723 Main St.
(at East First Avenue)
Current condition: Site is occupied by one-storey industrial buildings, last tenancy expires June 2009.
Site potential: Up to 80 studio units with ground-level retail on the Main Street.
Target population: Priority for singles living in shelters and hotels in Mount Pleasant and the Downtown Eastside.
10
215-225 West Second Ave.
(at Ontario)
Current condition: Three lots; rezoning required.
Site potential: Up to 100 studio units with ground-level retail on West Second Avenue.
Target population: Priority for singles living in shelters and hotels in Mt. Pleasant and the Downtown Eastside, up to half with mental illness or addictions
11
1308 Seymour (at Drake)
Current condition: Three lots vacant, one occupied by month-to-month tenants.
Site potential: Up to 100 studio units
Target population: Priority for singles living in shelters and hotels in Downtown South
12
590 Alexander St. (at Princess)
Current condition: Occupied by 76-unit social housing complex Marie Gomez Place, to be demolished.
Site potential: Up to 100 units with meals provided from a common kitchen and dining area.
Target population: Low-barrier housing for people with mental illness and/or addictions
© The Vancouver Sun 2007