Queensborough Small Sites Affordable Housing

As part of its 2019-2022 Strategic Plan, New Westminster City Council resolved to leverage City resources to secure development of below- and non-market housing. This direction is in response to the housing affordability crisis facing the city and region as a whole. One of the most direct ways that Council can deliver affordable housing options is to identify City-owned sites suitable for housing.

On October 28, 2019 Council directed in principle the use of the City-owned properties at:

  1. 350 to 362 Fenton Street (located in Queensborough)
  2. 2035 London Street and 2038 Ninth Avenue (located in Connaught Heights)

This page is focused on the project proposed for the site in Queensborough. Click here to learn more about the Connaught Heights project. 

PROJECT UPDATE

On August 10, 2020 Council endorsed in principle a proposal received from Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS) for a three story apartment building designed to appear as attached townhouses, with one level of underground parking. The building would include a total of 51 units, with a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The target population would be low- to moderate-income singles and families with a focus on Indigenous singles and families. In fall 2020, in light of the findings of a preliminary geotechnical investigation, VNHS and the City made the decision not to move forward with the application in its current form.

In partnership with VNHS, the City has continued work on developing a non-market affordable housing project for Indigenous individuals on this site. A modified project has been designed that responds to the new and immediate opportunity for Federal funding provided through the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), and based on updated site information on geotechnical construction technology. The project team sought the advice of an independent geotechnical engineer, and their review – based on preliminary information – concluded that technical solutions exist that could work to address existing site constraints (namely construction using piles as the building foundation).

With the relaunch of this project, the City has created a new project page on Be Heard New West, the City’s public engagement website. Updates will be provided on that page as the project advances through the approval process. 

Project Summary 

The proposed project includes 58 units in a three-storey mutli-unit building with a mix of studios, one and two bedroom units. The building would be for Indigenous individuals and families, including providing spaces for women and children The revised project would be situated on just over four of the nine City-owned lots along Fenton Street, now including a portion of 366 Fenton Street.

Concept drawings for the revised project have been prepared for the grant, which was submitted to Canada Housing Mortgage Corporation on August 31, 2021. The concept includes a low-rise apartment building designed to the Flood Construction Level (FCL) necessary for construction in Queensborough, with at-grade parking and three levels of residential above. A central elevator would provide access to all floors and provide accessibility to the units. An exterior common corridor is envisioned, which could also accommodate a table and chairs. Other common areas would include a common laundry room and green space. The proponent is seeking to design to the Passive House standard and include a geothermal exchange.

  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    We have put together a list of frequent questions. We will continue to add to this list as more questions arise.

    Questions have been updated as of September 14, 2021.  

    What is the policy context behind using this site for affordable housing?

    How does the City define “affordable housing?”

    What is the distinction between “supportive” and “independent, non-market housing?”

    What is the demand for affordable (non-market) housing in Queensborough?

    Will the proposed affordable housing meet the needs of residents in Queensborough?

    Why was this site recommended for affordable housing?

    What process was used to determine the suitability of these properties for affordable housing?

    What other sites were considered and why were they not recommended for affordable housing?

    How were the proposals evaluated?

    How much affordable (non-market) housing is there in New Westminster?

    Does the City have a disproportionate amount of affordable housing compared to other municipalities?

    What else is the City doing to increase the number of affordable housing units? 

    What process is involved to change the use of a parcel of land?

    What are the opportunities for resident engagement related to the redevelopment of this site for affordable housing?

    Why was this site identified when it will be difficult for occupants or tenants to meet their daily needs such as shopping for groceries?

    What will be the impacts of this project on local schools and child care facilities?

    What will be the impact of this development on off-street parking and traffic? Will the development be able to meet its off-street parking needs?

    What will be the City’s contribution to the affordable housing project? Are local taxpayers subsidizing the project?

    Is it a certainty that the site will be used for affordable housing purposes?

    Is there any evidence that this type of development will not decrease property values in the area?

    Will this project be managed by a society? If so do they do the client selection? Will neighbourhood residents get priority? How can residents apply? 


    WHAT IS THE POLICY CONTEXT BEHIND USING THiS SITE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

    Council, as part of its 2019-2022 Strategic Plan, resolved to “aggressively pursue creative approaches to housing policy and on the ground projects to transform the way housing is provided in New Westminster” and to “use partnerships, negotiations with developers and leveraging City resources to secure development of below- and non-market housing, as well as affordable child care.”

    HOW DOES THE CITY DEFINE “AFFORDABLE HOUSING?”

    There are many definitions related to affordable housing. The City, as part of the request for proposals for the small sites affordable housing project, used the terms below- and non-market rental housing and defined them as follows:

    Below-market rental units intended to meet rental demand for households earning between $30,000 and $75,000 per year (in 2020).

    Non-market rental units intended to meet rental demand for very low-income households with incomes under $30,000 per year (in 2020).

    WHAT IS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN “SUPPORTIVE” AND “INDEPENDENT, NON-MARKET HOUSING?”

    Supportive housing is subsidized housing with on-site, non-clinical supports and common amenity areas. Supports can include counselling and referral to primary health care services, employment readiness and lifeskills training, supervision and care planning, etc. Independent, non-market housing is subsidized housing in which tenants live independently with minimal or no support or supervision. 

    WHAT IS THE DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE (NON-MARKET) HOUSING IN QUEENSBOROUGH?

    In Queensborough, 15.6% of residents were considered low-income in 2017, which was lower than for New Westminster overall (17.2%). In total, there were 1,510 residents of Queensborough who were considered low-income in 2017, including 270 children and youth (0 to 17 years) and 330 seniors (65+ years).

    Across New Westminster there were 10,215 households spending 30% or more of their before-tax household income on housing costs in 2016, or 31.3% of all households. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation considers housing to be affordable if it costs less than 30% of a household’s before-tax household income.

    In New Westminster, the number of households on BC Housing’s waitlist increased by 28% between June 2014 and July 2019, from 460 households to 589 households. The need for affordable housing cuts across all demographic groups: in July 2019, there were 215 family households, 207 senior households, 105 person with disabilities households, 47 single person households, and 15 wheelchair accessible needs households on the waitlist.

    WILL THE PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEET THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS IN Queensborough?

    Affordable housing is a regional and a local issue, and New Westminster is working to contribute to addressing it. In the Queensborough neighbourhood alone, there are more low-income residents than could be served by the proposed affordable housing project. Tenants, if eligible, will be identified by the operators of the affordable housing project. While these may include existing residents of Queensborough or of New Westminster in general, they may also include residents seeking affordable housing in New Westminster.

    WHY Was THis SITES RECOMMENDED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

    One of the most direct ways that Council can deliver affordable housing options in New Westminster is to identify City-owned sites suitable for housing, and invite non-profit housing providers to propose how they would develop them. Such available sites are very limited, and the properties identified in Queensborough are some of the only suitable properties in New Westminster.

    WHAT PROCESS WAS USED TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF THESE PROPERTIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

    In August 2019, staff conducted an inventory of all City-owned properties to identify potential sites for small-sites affordable housing projects. A short list of five sites was identified, three of which were on the mainland and two of which were in Queensborough. These were identified by eliminating properties that were physically unsuited, including those that were too small for development; unusably shaped and not appropriate for safe access; without vacancy in the short-term; and within environmentally sensitive areas. The shortlisted sites were reviewed by senior staff in Development Services, Engineering, and Parks and Recreation to identify any foreseeable technical challenges that could complicate affordable housing development on the sites (e.g., geotechnical issues, rights-of-way, servicing requirements, land use, etc.) The five sites and staff’s evaluation were then presented for consideration by Council, which made the final site selection.

    WHAT OTHER SITES WERE CONSIDERED AND WHY WERE THEY NOT RECOMMENDED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

    All City-owned properties were originally considered, and a short list of five potential locations for small-sites affordable housing projects was identified, by eliminating properties that were physically unsuited. Of the three other physically suited sites not selected, two of the sites were on the mainland of New Westminster – 1823 to 1835 River Drive, and 700 Cumberland Street. One of the sites was in Queensborough – 329 Johnstone Street. Based on the evaluation process, these sites were not recommended for the following reasons:

    1823 to 1835 River Drive

    The main site challenges were as follows:

    • higher expected construction costs, including required storm water extension; a new sidewalk, curb and boulevard; and potential required undergrounding of utilities;
    • challenging traffic access from Stewardson Way;
    • liveability issues for affordable housing residents related to relative proximity to industrial area;
    • difficult site conditions, including an irregularly shaped parcel of land, with dedication/servicing right-of-way required for lane and River Drive; several on-site trees that would need to be replaced and/or retained; and, steep site topography.
       

    700 Cumberland Street

    The main site challenges were as follows:

    • small site size, comprising only 515 sq. m. (5,546 sq. ft.), which would limit its use for affordable housing purposes; and, adjacent southeast road could be upgraded to a multi-use path, the setback of which would further reduce the already limited buildable area;
    • liveability issues for affordable housing residents related to relative proximity to potential location of temporary large recycling area; and,
    • expected construction of the New Westminster Aquatic and Community Centre during timeframe of the project, which could create unexpected construction complications.
       

    329 Johnstone Street

    The main site challenges were as follows:

    • a significant sewer force main runs through a portion of the site, the setback of which would reduce the buildable area; and,
    • the parcel has been identified for potential use as part of a future mid-block greenway connection between Derwent Way and Wood Street.
       

    HOW where THE PROPOSALS EVALUATED?

    The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting housing providers to describe how they would develop this site for affordable housing. Seven proposals were received in response.

    The evaluation process for the proposals received was intended to take into account affordability, financial viability and sustainability. The evaluation process is also intended to identify the project that best meet objectives stated in the request for proposals (RFP) for each site to:

    • demonstrate elements that enhance long term affordability;
    • be sympathetic in design with the existing neighbourhoods;
    • incorporate units that are suitable for families with children;
    • be replicated elsewhere in the city; and,
    • be completed by fall 2022.* 
       

    The complete list of evaluation criteria is as follows:

    • the quality of the proposal in addressing the objectives of the RFP (noted above);
    • the ability to meet the timeline and scheduling requirements outlined in the RFP, the readiness of the project to proceed, and the anticipated timeframe to complete the project;
    • the proponent’s capacity to undertake the project;
    • the level of affordability proposed to be achieved and maintained over time;
    • the quality of the plan of work, the community consultation approach, and the suggested responsibility assignments;
    • the neighbourhood context and project design, the proponent’s knowledge of and experience in identifying the affordable housing needs of the city, the quality of the design of the project as it relates to the context of the neighbourhood and the community impact;
    • the project’s innovation in terms of addressing affordability, energy efficiency and accessibility considerations;
    • the proponent’s record of accomplishment, including whether the proponent and/or development team has successfully completed and/or operated a similar type project or a project of similar scope and size;
    • the financial feasibility, including preliminary anticipated costs and revenue sources, the proposed capital and operating pro-formas and the construction cost analysis;
    • the proponent’s ability to secure construction financing;
    • the construction procurement approach;
    • the proponent’s property management experience, including the number of units and affordable units managed, the years of experience and the performance record, including the familiarity of the various funding sources for housing development and rental subsidies; and,
    • the quality of the proponent’s references, with particular attention to past projects and client contracts.
       

    HOW MUCH AFFORDABLE (NON-MARKET) HOUSING IS THERE IN NEW WESTMINSTER?

    The City currently has 1,608 units of affordable (non-marked) housing, excluding supportive housing like Mazarine Lodge in Queensborough. Given the small size of New Westminster, the distribution of amenities and services such as affordable (non-market) housing is best understood at the sub-area level. Queensborough has the lowest number of non-market and co-op housing units by sub-area in New Westminster, with five such units.

    Sub Area Number of Independent Non-Market and Co-op Units Percent of Total
    Downtown 162 10.1%
    Centre of the City 952 59.2%
    East Side of the City 368 22.9%
    West Side of the City 121 7.5%
    Queensborough 5 0.3%
    TOTAL 1,608 100.0%


    DOES THE CITY HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPARED TO OTHER MUNCIPALITIES?

    About 4.5% of the city’s total housing stock is comprised of below- and non-market housing, which ranks the city fifth out of 21 municipalities in Metro Vancouver. The City is aiming to increase our percentage of below- and non-market housing, given the current housing affordability crisis in Metro Vancouver and throughout BC. Such housing meets the needs of low- and moderate-income households, including families of first responders and other needed professionals; and addresses unique situations, including seniors on fixed incomes and persons with disabilities.  

    WHAT ELSE IS THE CITY DOING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS?  

    The City is taking a number of initiatives to facilitate the development of new affordable housing in New Westminster. Other than the Small Sites Affordable Housing Initiative, one of the most direct ways that the City will increase the number affordable housing units is through its Inclusionary Housing Policy (2019). This policy requires that new multi-unit strata and mixed-use residential developments seeking additional density will have to contribute to the affordable rental housing stock. This means in most cases a developer will either have to provide new affordable housing units in the development or will have to provide a cash-in-lieu contribution to the City’s Affordable Housing Reserve Fund, enabling the City to pursue other opportunities and partnerships. Projects that will include affordable housing units are now in the planning and approvals process.

    WHAT PROCESS IS INVOLVED TO CHANGE THE USE OF A PARCEL OF LAND?

    There are two components that control the land use of a property: the zoning (controlled by the Zoning Bylaw) and the land use designation (controlled by the Official Community Plan). The Zoning Bylaw is a regulatory tool that includes specific requirements that the buildings/structures constructed on the property must comply with (e.g., permitted density, site coverage, land use, and parking). The Official Community Plan (OCP) is a high-level policy tool that more generally identifies the contemplated uses. The OCP includes land use designations and the Land Use Designation Map, which show the type and location of growth that Council is likely to support.

    Changing the land use for the affordable housing project will require an OCP bylaw amendment (to change the land use designation) and a Zoning Bylaw amendment (or rezoning). Typically the proposed changes to these bylaws is examined through the development review process, which includes public consultation. At the end of this process, the decision as to whether or not to approve a change to the OCP or zoning is made by Council. In this case, given the urgent need for affordable housing units for Indigenous communities, Council has directed that the public engagement process for the project be abbreviated in order to meet senior government funding deadlines. 

    WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT RELATED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS SITES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

    Given the urgent need for affordable housing units for Indigenous communities, Council has directed that the public engagement process be abbreviated in order to meet senior government funding deadlines. There will be opportunities for the public to provide feedback through the approval process. 

    The opportunities to provide feedback will be advertised in the following ways:

    WHY was THis SITE IDENTIFIED WHEN IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR OCCUPANTS OR TENANTS TO MEET THEIR DAILY NEEDS SUCH AS SHOPPING FOR GROCERIES?

    The site is located within walking distance of the Queensborough Landing Shopping Centre (1.0 km away), which has a full range of shopping amenities. Furthermore, the Fenton Street site will be located within walking distance (0.88 km) of the Queensborough Eastern Node shopping area at Mercer Street between Ewen Avenue and Duncan Street once the Queensborough Eastern Node project is completed. The site is also located within a short walk (0.45 km) from Old Schoolhouse Park, which has a wide range of amenities, including a playground, nature play area, basketball court, tennis court, sports field, picnic shelter and outdoor fitness circuit.

    The site is a short walk away (0.33 km – 0.40 km) from the bus stops for the 104 bus, which is a short bus ride (two to three minutes) from two schools (Queen Elizabeth Elementary School and Queensborough Middle School), three parks (Ryall Park, Port Royal Park and Port Royal Riverfront Walk) and the many amenities (library, fitness centre, community centre, and meeting rooms) of the Queensborough Community Centre). The 104 bus, which operates every 13 minutes during peak hours, also connects the Fenton Street site with the Skytrain System (at 22nd Street) and workplaces on Annacis Island.

    WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACTS OF THiS PROJECT ON LOCAL SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES?

    The proposed project is relatively small by development standards, and the updated proposal (September 2021) comprises a variety of bedroom types, including studio, one and two bedroom units. As such, they are likely to generate only limited numbers of children aged 0 to 17 years.

    Queensborough has the lowest number of licensed child care spaces for children aged 0 to 12 years by sub-area in New Westminster. Given this need for child care resources, the City continues to focus its efforts on creating new child care spaces in Queensborough. To this end, the City and School District partnered on the development of 40 new school-age care spaces, and the has City successful applied for a provincial grant to develop 12 infant/toddler and 25 three to five child care spaces at 490 Furness Street. The City will continue to actively work with the School District and senior governments to explore opportunities to increase the number of child care spaces in Queensborough. The City also continues to permit group child care in most commercial, mixed use and multiple-dwelling districts subject to certain conditions. Depending on the type of child care, the number of children and the location, the City is also processing rezoning applications and development variance permits in order to permit group child care. 

    WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT ON OFF-STREET PARKING AND TRAFFIC? WILL THE DEVELOPMENT BE ABLE TO MEET ITS OFF-STREET PARKING NEEDS?

    Studies indicate that very low-income and low-income households are more likely to use transit than moderate and high-income households. A Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Study by Metro Vancouver, for example, found that over 30% of all work trips in Metro Vancouver by very low- and low-income renter households were by transit, compared with approximately 15% of all work trips by moderate- and high-income owner households. Vehicle ownership among low-income households is lower than for other households: a Department of Transportation Study from the United States in 2009 found that 24% of Americans households at or below the poverty level had no vehicles, while close to 50% had one vehicle. In contrast, 2% of American households earning $100,000 or more had no vehicles and approximately 10% had one vehicle.

    WHAT WILL BE THE CITY’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT? ARE LOCAL TAXPAYERS SUBSIDIZING THESE PROJECTS?

    The City is providing the land at no cost for the purposes of realizing affordable housing on the sites in question. If the project is supported by Council, the City would enter into a long term lease (typically the life of the building), to allow the City to retain ownership of the site. The City has submitted for a grant that would cover 100% of the costs related to the construction of the project.

    IS IT A CERTAINTY THAT THE SITE WILL BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PURPOSES?

    The proposal will have to go through a review process, with Council making the final decision with regard to the approval of the Official Community Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment Bylaws. Additionally, the project is dependent on receiving senior government funding. If the City and/or it’s partner (Vancouver Native Housing Society) is unable to funding related to capital and/or operating costs, then they may not be in a position to proceed. As such, there is no guarantee that the site will be used for affordable housing purposes.

    IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT DECREASE PROPERTY VALUES IN THE AREA?

    The most relevant study to examine this question is one from BC Housing, published in January 2020 and entitled “Exploring Impacts of Non-Market Housing on Surrounding Property Values.” This study reviewed 13 case study sites for a variety of non-market housing developments in British Columbia and their impact on median assessed residential property values for properties within 200 metres of the developments. This study compared the changes in property values during the five post-construction years with the changes during these years to property values in their municipality-as-a-whole. This study found the following results:

    • four study sites: nearby area residential property values increased faster than for the municipality-as-a-whole;
    • six study sites: nearby area residential property values increased at the same rate as for the municipality-as-a-whole; and,
    • three study sites: nearby area residential property values did not increase as quickly as the municipality-as-a-whole.
       

    Based on analysis of these sites and other factors during this study, it was concluded that the main factors affecting residential real estate property values were global and local economic factors, not the introduction of non-market housing to the area. 

    Will this project be managed by a society? If so do they do the client selection? Will neighbourhood residents get priority? How can residents apply?

    Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS) would manage the non-profit affordable housing, and will be responsible for tenant selection. Once housing units become available the proponent will utilize the BC Housing Registry to select eligible applicants for an interview process. The Housing Registry, which is administered by BC Housing, provides a centralized database of applicant information to non-profit providers of affordable housing.

    Affordable rental housing is regional and local issue, and while eligible tenants on the Housing Registry may include existing residents of the Queensborough neighbourhood, they may also include residents seeking affordable housing in New Westminster. If you live in B.C., have a low income and meet eligibility criteria, you may qualify for the subsidized housing. To learn about subsidized housing options available in B.C. and how to apply please visit the BC Housing website at: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-housing

  • VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION

    A virtual information session was held on Wednesday, July 8 from 6:30pm to 8pm to provide information and answer questions about the site at 350 to 362 Fenton Street.

    Thank you to everyone who attended – we had just over 15 community members join the meeting.

    At the virtual meeting, hosted on Zoom, staff provided an overview of the small-sites affordable housing initiative, the evaluation criteria that has been developed to review the proposals, and next steps in the process to explore affordable housing on this site. Click here to see the presentation.

    After the presentation, there was a question and answer session.

    We have updated the Frequently Asked Questions sections above to reflect the questions that we heard during the information session. We have also summarized the key feedback we heard from participants below and have provided answers to some “less frequent” questions.

    WHAT WE HEARD

    They key themes we heard during the virtual information session, and from comments sent directly to staff, are:

    • Improved transportation options are important. Participants identified the desire to see an increased level of transit service, fully-subsidised passes for the Q2Q ferry, and car share program, for the benefit of the residents, who are less likely to own cars. These improvements would also benefit the community as a whole. 
    • Traffic is already an issue. Participants highlighted the existing traffic issues, including those related to the Queensborough Bridge. It was noted that a number of other new developments underway could also add to these issues.
    • Opportunities to reduce greenhouse gasses should be considered. Participants noted that one of the best ways to reduce emissions is by reducing vehicle trips (especially over the bridge), which could be achieved through the provision of additional amenities in the neighbourhood or even within this development (e.g. child care, doctor’s offices).
    • Affordable housing is needed. Participants expressed support for affordable housing, and the benefit of the location for access to amenities. 
       

    ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

    The FAQ section above has now been updated. We added new questions and updated some of the existing questions based on those raised during the information session. There were also a few “less frequent” questions that didn’t get added to the FAQ but we still want to answer.

    Is the London Street location weighted more favourably due to its proximity to 22nd Street SkyTrain station? 

    On October 28, 2019 Council endorse in principle the use of both City-owned sites at 2035 London Street and 2038 Ninth Avenue (located in Connaught Heights) and 350 to 362 Fenton Street (located in Queensborough). Both were endorsed for development of affordable housing as part of the Small Sites Affordable Housing Initiative and are intended to advance through distinct but related processes. While its relative proximity to public transit (22nd Street Station) was a site opportunity identified for the Connaught Heights site, it does not place it ahead of the Queensborough site, which has also been endorsed for the development of affordable housing and progressing in its own manner.

    What does “sympathetic design” mean?

    When the City specifies that it is interested in projects that are sympathetic in design, it means that it will considering how the new building would fit into the context of the surrounding neighbourhood and adjacent buildings, and its impact on existing neighbours, new building residents, and the community as a whole.

    This included attention to the scale and massing of the new building to ensure that is not too dissimilar from the surrounding buildings, transitions down to a smaller size as it gets closer to less prominent buildings, and considers impacts on privacy and access to light and airflow. A review of sympathetic design ultimately considers how the new building will contribute to the livability and enjoyment of the surrounding neighbourhood and of the new residents who will be living in the building. Staff will be working directly with the successful applicant to ensure sympathetic design is considered early in the review process.

    What is the plan for the remainder of the City owned properties?

    There are no plans at this time to develop the remaining vacant City owned properties on Fenton Street. In the Queensborough Community Plan these properties are envisioned to be used for single detached dwellings and duplexes. Single detached dwellings may also include a secondary suite.

  • Additional Resources

    Background materials and Council reports will be posted here.

    September 13, 2021 Council Report - Council directed staff to fast-track the review process with the intention of better meeting current funding opportunities

    October 2020: Application put on hold

    September 22, 2020: New Westminster Design Panel. Please see:

    August 10, 2020: Council Report - Queensborough Recommended Proponent and Connaught Heights Next Steps

    July 13, 2020: Council Report - Update on Next Steps

    June 29 and July 8, 2020 - Virtual Information Session (Connaught Heights site presentation and Queensborough site presentation). 

    June 2020 - Staff conducted an evaluation of the 14 proposals received against the evaluation criteria included in the RFP (see Attachment 2).

    May 27, 2020 - BC Housing announced a new round of funding for the Community Housing Fund.

    March 2020 - The initiative was paused to enable staff to focus their attention on the City’s COVID-19 response.

    January 2020 - The City posted an RFP for each site. The RFPs were open for an eight week period. A total of 14 proposals were received: seven for each site.

    October 28, 2019 Council Report - Recommended Sites and Calls for Proposals

    July 2019 - Staff conducted an inventory of all City-owned sites, which were subsequently evaluated to determine suitability for the initiative.

    Spring of 2019 - The Affordable Housing and Child Care Task Force instructed staff to initiate a new round of the Small Sites Affordable Housing Initiative.

  • John Stark
    Senior Social Planner
    604-515-3777

    Anur Mehdic
    Housing and Child Care Planning Analyst
    604-515-3792