City engages with public on development plan for Rupert and Renfrew SkyTrain stations

On Saturday, the City of Vancouver introduced the public to its draft plan for the area around the Rupert and Renfrew SkyTrain stations, seeking feedback from the community.

It’s a plan that will see major densification around the two transit hubs, featuring housing for 15,000 people.

“The station area plan includes an array of housing from higher-density highrises to mid-rise forms to six-st low-rise forms,” said City of Vancouver senior planner Andrew Pask.

“The array of housing also includes rentals, ownership opportunities, and below-marketing housing.”

Norm Leech, executive director for Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, works in the Renfrew area, providing social services to people in need.

He says affordable housing needs to be the number one priority.

“It is out of control. The clients we serve can’t afford to live in this neighbourhood anymore,” Leech said.

“My staff can’t afford to live in this neighbourhood and that is happening in most liveable cities around the world.”

He says his other concern when it comes to big developments like the proposed Rupert and Renfrew Stations area plan is that housing densification will trump community spaces.

“Developers and corporations need to maximize profits for their shareholders, and that can mean that community priorities might get lost in that,” he said.

“It is great that people have a place to live, but if they don’t have a park, if they don’t have a library, where are they going to get those services? They aren’t going to be as healthy or happy if they don’t have those services to go along with the density.”

The City of Vancouver is encouraging the public to provide feedback at shapeyourcity.ca.