While Vancouverites struggle with housing affordability, critics point to a proposed development they say shows the province needs to do more to address the lack of supply.
Tenants at 1753-1757 West 11th Ave. recently learned the owner of their six unit building has applied for a demolition permit. The proposed development is for a four unit luxury condo building.
Caitlin Vanstone, a resident of the building, says they could get an eviction notice within a matter of days.
“Recently, we have gotten more communication from city saying that the demolition permit would be released any day now,” Vanstone said.
She and her mother have been living in the building for a number of years. Vanstone says she’s worried about where they’ll live and wonder why they’re being put in this position.
“What I am a little perturbed about is the city and how they can allow for a six-unit building to be demolished… so that it’s replaced with a four-unit building,” she said.
In an email, city staff said based on zoning rules, the proposed development would be allowed.
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In addition, since the new building would have fewer than six units in it, the owner doesn’t have to worry about discretionary reviews or soliciting feedback from neighbours.
The City says the Rental Housing Stock ODP typical requires new developments to build an equal or greater number of pre-existing units, but only for developments of six or more units.
“Staff are aware of this issue regarding the six unit threshold and are actively exploring ways to improve our regulations as part of the review of the City’s rental replacement policies that is currently underway,” said Jag Sandhu, a media representative for the city.
Housing advocates say so-called demovictions have become all too common in Vancouver, but with the vacancy rate sitting at 0.6 per cent, NDP housing critic David Eby says Vanstone and others are being squeezed out with nowhere to go.
“There’s a critical shortage of rental housing. The province has neglected it for a really long time and now we’re at the point of crisis,” Eby said.
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According to the city’s Renters Advisory Committee, tenants are entitled to two months notice and one month of free rent. However, for Vanstone, the threat of moving means more than just leaving this apartment.
“I’ve actually started looking for jobs outside of the province and even outside of the country because it’s simply getting too unaffordable to live here,” said Vanstone.