Public Hearing – December 14th, 2023 – 1:00pm
As this is the last public hearing of the year, Hannah and I had assumed its agenda would be a relatively quiet one. Certainly the first item, an application under the Secured Rental Policy for a five-floor building across from the oldest remaining BC Housing site in Vancouver hasn’t seen much coal stuffed into its stocking. However, Item #2 has drawn far more humbugs on the other side of town, even though it complies with those same guidelines.
Granted, the strength of these jeers have been reduced from the summer when city council approved a slightly larger building on the opposite side of this block. That’s not to say everyone on the west side are a bunch scrooges, as Item #3 shows that when it comes to providing care for seniors, even Vancouver’s most affluent have large hearts. There is something special about this time of year, and Item #4 will help families share that spirit together.
Other prefer to have their own space, and more than a few people feel there’s no room for this hotel on their Downtown street, and that it’s not even needed in the first place. Of course, Vancouver is a rich tapestry of various peoples and Item #5 probably hoped the restoration of a long buried culture in Grandview Woodlands would be celebrated. Instead, these below-market homes have faced the same derision that defeated the last tower proposed on Commercial Drive.
Backlash Expectations
Item #1 – 2231-2247 East 41st Avenue – Very Low
Only a single individual has shown any interest in this proposal
Item #2 – 6470 Larch Street – Moderate
In June, 46 people wrote to city council to oppose a similarly-sized building on this block
Item #3 – 4330-4408 Arbutus Street and 2092 Nanton Avenue – Very Low
Providing care homes for senior citizens rarely causes a disturbance
Item #4 – 848 Seymour Street – Low
Some residents in the neighbouring strata building feel there’s no room for this hotel on their block
Item #5 – 1710-1730 East Pender Street – Very High
A shorter building two blocks to the south was withdrawn in 2018 after years of heated opposition
-(Source)
Item #1 – 2231-2247 East 41st Avenue – Very Low
What is it?:
This is a five floor rental building whose general shape, and size were prescribed by the Secured Rental Policy. If approved, a more detailed concept will be reviewed at the development permit stage.
Where is it?:
Here, it’s across the road from the Orchard Park apartments, and a 5-minute walk from the R4 RapidBus stop at Victoria Drive.
What will it contribute to the community?:
It will pay a ~$800,000 levy to fund improvements to city-owned infrastructure (pg 28).
What was the open house like?:
This virtual meeting was like a silent night, in that there wasn’t a single question asked.
What are its strengths/weaknesses?:
At this stage, any positives or negatives relate purely to its location, the type of housing being provided, or other matters governed by the Secured Rental Policy.
What is the opposition like?:
The one person to write city council fears the tenants of these market rental homes will compromise the existing residents’ safety, and the enjoyment of their community.
Want to speak up?:
You can submit your comments using this online form, or register to speak by phone, or in-person here.
Item #2 – 6470 Larch Street – Moderate
What is it?:
This is a five floor rental building whose general shape, and size were prescribed by the Secured Rental Policy. If approved, a more detailed concept will be reviewed at the development permit stage.
Where is it?:
Here, this vacant lot is just down the block from a similar proposal that was approved in June, meaning it’s also a ten-minute walk form the local Save-On-Foods, as well as the Arbutus Greenway.
What will it contribute to the community?:
The ~$900,000 levy it will pay (pg 10) could be used to pave the laneway the city will create by taking a section of the property’s north end (pg 18).
What was the open house like?:
This online event was pretty uneventful, with a question about how traffic could be mitigated, and another curious about affordable housing that noted most jobs in the area only pay minimum wage.
What are its strengths/weaknesses?:
At this stage, any positives or negatives relate purely to its location, the type of housing being provided, or other matters governed by the Secured Rental Policy.
What is the opposition like?:
Despite city council’s decision this summer, a sizable minority (pg 24) remain committed to protecting their community’s unique heritage, including someone claiming to be the owner of a Burnaby lumber wholesaler.
Want to speak up?:
You can submit your comments using this online form, or register to speak by phone, or in-person here.
Item #3 – 4330-4408 Arbutus Street and 2092 Nanton Avenue – Very Low
What is it?:
This six floor building will provide 162 home for seniors in need of an enhanced level of care due to memory issues, chronic illness, or mobility challenges.
Where is it?:
Here, it’s kitty-corner to the revamped Arbutus Shopping Centre, across the street from the exclusive Arbutus Club, and a short hop west from the Arbutus Greenway.
What will it contribute to the community?:
There will be payments of ~$400,000 to fund the construction of amenities, like new daycare, in the community, ~$320,000 for new public art, and ~$4.7 million to upgrade civic infrastructure (pg 9).
What has changed since it was first proposed?
To meet its conditions of approval, the front entrance will need to be made more accessible, ideally by shortening the staircase, and ramp (pg 14).
What was the open house like?:
A misunderstanding of the technical term “institutional use” led to several questions at this virtual event, as people needlessly feared these seniors care homes would actually be a detox centre.
What are its strengths?:
There’s a lovely space on the rooftop for residents who are no longer able to leave the building to enjoy the numerous nearby parks.
What are its weaknesses?:
It’s a very long building, but that can’t be helped given the needs of the seniors who will live here.
What is the opposition like?:
Some would have liked to see social housing built here instead (pg 32), but the only person to write city council feels these seniors will make their neighbourhood too noisy.
Want to speak up?:
You can submit your comments using this online form, or register to speak by phone, or in-person here.
Item #4 – 848 Seymour Street – Low
What is it?:
There will be 393 hotel rooms in this 30-storey building, with a restaurant on the ground floor.
Where is it?:
Here, this surface parking lot is across from the Orpheum, and just around the corner from Japadog.
What will it contribute to the community?:
It will pay ~$2.55 million to fund more daycare spaces, and affordable housing in Downtown, ~$6.8 million will go to upgrading things like city sidewalks, and provide public art worth ~$470,000 (pg 10).
What has changed since it was first proposed?
To move ahead, the podium will need to be pulled back to allow for a bit more space on the sidewalk, and increase its distance from the L’Aria strata building (pg 15).
What was the open house like?:
Ironically, when this online meeting was held a year ago, someone asked why this process was being fast-tracked. Two other questioners were more concerned about potential traffic conflicts in the laneway.
What are its strengths?:
This fills in a hole in Downtown’s urban fabric with some badly needed hotel rooms, and a warm looking podium that should bring more pedestrian activity to this street.
What are its weaknesses?:
Downtown’s laneways are generally pretty unfriendly to walk, and this isn’t going to change that feeling.
What is the opposition like?:
It’s a mix of people concerned about the loss of their apartment’s view combined with those upset that it’ll be harder to find somewhere to park their car when they come Downtown (pg 34).
Want to speak up?:
You can submit your comments using this online form, or register to speak by phone, or in-person here.
Item #5 – 1710-1730 East Pender Street – Very High
What is it?:
This 18-floor building will provide 191 social housing apartments, including 6 live-work homes, all of which will be prioritized for Indigenous Peoples and families (pg 5).
Where is it?:
Here, up the hill from the R5 RapidBus stop at Commercial and East Hastings, it’s about a 5-minute walk from the Aboriginal Friendship Society, and Mike’s No Frills grocery store.
What will it contribute to the community?:
In addition to providing a deeper level of affordability than required by city policy (pg 5), it will pay ~$100,000 to improve city-owned infrastructure (pg 56).
What has changed since it was first proposed?
A few one-bedroom apartments were consolidated into large family-sized homes, but overall the design remains much the same as the one presented at the pre-application open house, it’s just more flushed out.
What was the open house like?:
There were nine questions during this virtual event, ranging from how many people would call these residences home, how they would impact the community’s safety, and when this hearing would be held.
What are its strengths?:
The murals, tree root-shaped retail storefronts, and laneway paving patterns combine for a beautiful celebration of the culture of the urban indigenous peoples in Vancouver. There’s a lot of amenity space too, including a large courtyard in the podium, and long house cultural space on the tower’s roof.
What are its weaknesses?:
Considering its interesting base, the tower’s white colour palette seems kind boring.
What is the opposition like?:
Those who have written to city council claim that this looks ugly, will bring more drug addicts to the neighbourhood, and above all want the height capped at eight floors.
Want to speak up?:
You can submit your comments using this online form, or register to speak by phone, or in-person here.
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