Province pushes Vancouver to speed up housing as council weighs Broadway development
Global News
Next week, council will consider a "pace of change" policy governing how fast developers will be able to tear down and redevelop existing rental stock in the Broadway corridor.
The province is leaning on the City of Vancouver to speed up housing projects, ahead of a key council decision on how fast to allow redevelopment along the Broadway corridor.
The City of Vancouver approved its Broadway Plan last year, a sweeping document aimed at guiding development around the new Broadway subway line. Next week, council will consider a “pace of change” policy governing how fast developers will be able to tear down and redevelop existing rental stock.
“The biggest concern that I’ve been hearing is the notion we should slow down the pace of development that’s going to be happening there,” Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon told Global News on Wednesday.
“We are in a housing crisis and we are at the state now where we need to get on with it — so the discussion they’re having around the pace, I think the pace needs to be at the pace of the challenge we have, which is fast, and if there is a developer or a not-for-profit that is ready to go, they should be able to start work.”
The report to council next week proposes four options regarding the pace of change in the Broadway corridor over a three-year period.
City staff have recommended the least disruptive option, which would allow five redevelopments and displace an estimated 180 renter households per year.
Option two would allow 15 redevelopments, displacing an estimated 550 households, while option three would allow 30 redevelopments, displacing an estimated 910 households.
A fourth option would set no limit on redevelopments, displacing a potential 2,000 households per year.