Vancouver social housing tower debate draws dozens of speakers to council
Posted May 20, 2021 9:57 am.
Last Updated May 20, 2021 9:58 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – After hours of discussion from more than 100 speakers, City Council has paused debate over a controversial idea to add social housing towers in Vancouver.
The idea comes from Coun. Christine Boyle, who says if approved, it would fast-track non-profit and social housing and could include towers up to 12 storeys high.
The towers would be in certain neighbourhoods, including Kitsilano, Marpole, Mount Pleasant, Grandview-Woodland, and Fairview.
“Neighbourhoods that are already multi-family apartment neighbourhods,” she explained, saying the move would give community housing providers flexibility to house more people and be as affordable as possible.
Related article: Concerns raised about another hotel being converted into social housing in Mount Pleasant
She feels this is sorely needed, as many people working in Vancouver can’t afford to live in the city.
“We’re in a kind of lucky and rare moment where both the provincial and federal government are interested in investing in community housing. I think it’s an important opportunity for us, as a local government, to step up and say ‘We’re going to make the zoning possible. We’re going to reduce the barriers,'” she said.
Critics of the proposal say the change shouldn’t be considered without public consultation, and fear it could drive up the cost of rent in those neighbourhoods.
Council will resume the debate on Tuesday, when they will hear from more than a dozen additional speakers.
