Affordable housing development opens in Vancouver

Dogwood Gardens, the first of four affordable new housing developments in Vancouver, opened Tuesday.

The City of Vancouver says it has partnered with S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and Tikva to launch nearly 140 new affordable homes as part of the Cambie Gardens development.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the opening of Dogwood Gardens. The City of Vancouver is committed to delivering much-needed quality housing while developing collaborative relationships with community partners. We applaud the work of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and Tikva who have helped expand options for culturally appropriate housing across our city,” Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement.

Located at 603 West 59th Avenue, the homes are the first in four affordable housing developments at Cambie Gardens which will eventually provide 540 new lower-cost homes.

Opening new Dogwood Gardens #affordablehousing project W @KenSimCity providing 138 homes operated by @SUCCESSCanada & @TikvaHousing! developed through inclusionary housing policy requiring developers provide social/affordable #housing to City thru large redevelopment projects. pic.twitter.com/m5gG3H8PLl

— Sarah Kirby-Yung  (@sarahkirby_yung) January 10, 2023

“The project was developed through the City’s inclusionary housing policy, which requires developers to provide social housing to the City through large redevelopment projects,” the city added.

Sim grew up in the neighbourhood and says the project serves a desperate need in the market.

“It’s good to see projects like this that are available to the next generation of Vancouverites who may have a lot, but they can still live in an amazing neighbourhood like this one,” Sim said.

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The Dogwood Gardens also includes 14 shelter rate units. There is also an amenity space, a children’s play area, parking, and storage. The city says there will be a range of prices for the units.

Some are also reserved for people “in the provinces Supporting Tenants, Enabling Pathways (STEP) program which helps them transition out of supportive housing, making room for people who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk in those supported homes.”

Excited to be joining @TikvaHousing & @SUCCESSCanada for the opening of new #affordablehousing units at #DogwoodGardens in #Vancouver. Todah Rabah @CityofVancouver for supporting of this project. #AffordableHousing is a @JewishVancouver and @CIJAinfo
priority. #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/dsYu53bKWN

— Nico Slobinsky (@nicoslobinsky) January 10, 2023

There will also be 55 units set at rates that people who earn up to BC Housing’s Housing Income Limits can afford.

Additionally, nearly 70 units will be at rates about 10 per cent below market rates.

“I already had the opportunity to check out some of these units and they were absolutely amazing, they’re accessible. You have two and three-bedroom units, and things that are wheelchair accessible. So there was a lot of thought that went into these units,” Sim said.

Today was an exciting day for @TikvaHousing as we celebrated the opening of #DogwoodGardens in partnership with @SUCCESSCanada and the @CityofVancouver. Thank you Mayor @KenSimCity, and council members for your continued support in the delivery of #affordablehousing! pic.twitter.com/R2rBPuyJ0c

— Tikva Housing (@TikvaHousing) January 10, 2023

Queenie Choo, the CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S, says that partnerships like this can help address the housing crisis.

“We’re proud to be able to help find solutions to the housing affordability crisis in our region through innovative partnerships like this one,” Choo said.

“We do know that people in Vancouver and across B.C. are struggling to find quality housing in their communities that suit their needs and are affordable and Dogwood Gardens is a positive example of new affordable housing in Vancouver,” Sim added.

The city says this comes as part of the city’s 10-year housing strategy to help with housing affordability.

“To meet the needs of our growing population and ensure our city remains vibrant and diverse, it’s important that there is affordable and varied supply of housing. Dogwood Gardens is one of the many projects the City has fast-tracked to reduce Vancouver’s housing affordability gap and to provide a strong foundation for the future of Vancouver,” the city added.