City of Vancouver backs down on Kitsilano supportive housing project

The City of Vancouver has backed down in its legal fight over a controversial proposed supportive housing building in Kitsilano.

City council approved the rezoning application for the 13-storey project at Arbutus Street and West 8th Avenue in 2022.

Shortly after, the Kitsilano Coalition launched a court challenge seeking a judicial review of the council’s decision. The City of Vancouver has consented to the judicial review, meaning the rezoning has been quashed.

2:12 City of Vancouver backs down on controversial Kitsilano supportive housing project

The Kitsilano Coalition also says it has been in discussions with the city and the mayor’s office who have shown interest in creating a different type of project.

“It is what it is,” Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said.

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“I think the bigger question is we have to rethink these projects and go back to the drawing board. We have to make sure that the projects that are presented work in the context of setting everyone up for success.”

Lucy Maloney, councillor with OneCity Vancouver, said it was unfortunate the project was cancelled.

“Vancouverites have told us during the byelection campaign that their number one concern is housing,” she told Global News.

“Housing security, housing affordability and Vancouver’s homelessness crisis, which seems to be getting worse and not better.”

Maloney said she understands people’s concerns about change in their neighbourhood but there are people in need of housing in every neighbourhood in the city.

“I’ll certainly be pushing for supportive housing,” she added.

1:53 Eby weighs in on Kitsilano supportive housing fight

In January, B.C. Premier David Eby said he was frustrated about the project after the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled in December that a law passed by the provincial government to stave off opposition to the project was unconstitutional.

The B.C. government adopted the law in 2023 at the City of Vancouver’s request to push through the development, which would have been 12 storeys tall on Arbutus Street with units open to low-income residents and those needing support services.

“This is frustrating,” Eby said in January.

“We’re trying to build housing for people. Everybody in British Columbia knows there’s a housing crisis. They see the people in the streets. They see that providing affordable housing with supports for people as part of the response to this.”