140 homes for the homeless proposed next to future Arbutus Station in Kitsilano | Urbanized – Daily Hive

In an effort to reduce homelessness, a major supportive housing building could be constructed immediately north of the future SkyTrain Arbutus Station and the new 99 B-Line bus loop.

The provincial government announced today its intention to develop a vacant lot at 2086-2098 West 7th Avenue and 2091 West 8th Avenue the northeast corner of the intersection of Arbutus Street and West 8th Avenue into a 12-storey tower.

This transit-oriented location is adjacent to the Arbutus Greenway to the east, Delamont Park to the north, and St. Augustine School to the west.

Site of the homeless supportive housing project at 2086-2098 West 7th Avenue and 2091 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Google Maps)

Site of the homeless supportive housing project at 2086-2098 West 7th Avenue and 2091 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (BC Housing)

Site of the homeless supportive housing project at 2086-2098 West 7th Avenue and 2091 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Google Maps)

All 140 units in the building will be studios, with supports for single adults, seniors, and people with disabilities who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The units will have a private bathroom and kitchen, and at least 5% will be fully accessible. Residents will have shared amenity spaces such as laundry, a communal kitchen and dining area, and program space.

The building will be managed by a non-profit housing operator, which will be required to provide 24/7 on-site presence and offer support services to the residents, including daily meals, healthcare services, access and referral to addiction recovery and mental health programs, Indigenous cultural programming, skills building, relationship building, and connection to volunteer or employment opportunities.

Artistic rendering of the homeless supportive housing project at 2086-2098 West 7th Avenue and 2091 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (BC Housing)

In a statement, Mayor Kennedy Stewart said such projects will provide much-needed housing and help us create safe, inclusive communities for everyone. By creating hundreds more warm, safe and supportive homes with basic necessities, such as food, washrooms and laundry, we can ensure that fewer people are outside struggling to survive. This is how we make sure Vancouver is a city that works for everyone.

This permanent building would be constructed using modular construction methods to expedite the implementation of the housing.

Currently, BC Housing and the City of Vancouver have just commenced the pre-application neighbourhood consultation phase. A formal rezoning application will be submitted to the municipal government this spring with an aim to reach a decision with city council in Fall 2021.

If approved, construction would begin in the middle of 2022 for a completion in late 2023 or early 2024.

November 2020 conceptual design of SkyTrains future Arbutus Station at the northeast corner of Arbutus Station and West Broadway. This transit hub is located just south of the proposed supportive housing development. (Government of BC)

The projects construction and operating costs will be funded by the provincial government, and grants from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will be pursued.

The provincial government also announced today its proposal to build a 12-storey building at1406-1410 East King Edward Avenue in Vancouver with 90 studio units.

Both projects combined account for the majority of the provincial governments strategy, announced in September 2020, to build 350 additional permanent supportive modular homes within Vancouver for the homeless.

This is in addition to the approximately 1,000 supportive homes the provincial government has built in Vancouver since 2017, and the 98 temporary supportive modular homes coming to 1580 Vernon Drive in the False Creek Flats this summer.

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140 homes for the homeless proposed next to future Arbutus Station in Kitsilano | Urbanized - Daily Hive