Social Housing in Vancouver - The 14 Sites
 

The 14 projects that are under construction or in the pipeline certainly warrant their own thread.

I will try to populate this thread with photos of the six sites that are currently under construction. With funding now approved for the rest of the batch there will be a lot of movement on them soon.

1050 Expo Boulevard
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 133
Non-Profit Housing Society: 127 Society for Housing/St. James Community Services Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $30.6 million


1134 Burrard Street
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 141
Non-Profit Housing Society: Kettle Friendship Society/Family Services of Greater Vancouver
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $30.4 million


215 West 2nd Avenue
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 147
Non-Profit Housing Society: Katherine Sanford Housing Society/RainCity Housing and Support Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $34.2 million


590 Alexander Street
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 139
Non-Profit Housing Society: PHS Community Services Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $31.2 million


606 Powell Street
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 147
Non-Profit Housing Society: RainCity Housing and Support Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $34.6 million


1233 - 1251 Howe
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 110
Non-Profit Housing Society: McLaren Housing Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $22.3 million


7th and Fir
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 62
Non-Profit Housing Society: Katherine Sanford Housing Society/Motivation, Power and Achievement Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $13.4 million


675 E. Broadway
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/306...n?size=620x400
Source
Number of apartments: 127 (includes 20 to 30 below market rental units)
Non-Profit Housing Society: Vancouver Native Housing Society/Broadway Youth Resources Centre
Estimated Project Capital Cost: $28.3 million


First and Main
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Photo of the project rendering taken by SFUVancouver, May 28th, 2010, at the project site.
Number of apartments: 129
Non-Profit Housing Society: Lookout Emergency Aid Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: ?


Abott and Pender
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5...tsocialhou.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Photo of the project rendering taken by SFUVancouver, May 28th, 2010, at the project site.
Number of apartments: about 110
Non-Profit Housing Society: Atria Women's Housing Society
Estimated Project Capital Cost: ?

Expo looks like a parking garage

Burrard looks like 1960's west end

W 2nd Ave looks boring, with an annoyingly-familiar and desparate splash of colour. reminds me of the cbc building in toronto

Alexander Street is tolerable, but really belongs in the 70's as a radisson hotel

Same for East Broadway, only not so tolerable

7th and Fir can go either way... time will tell

I hope Powell is just a placeholder until they get around to designing it

1251 Howe looks really promising... the design is rational and seems hard to screw up

Realistically, I can only see 1251 Howe, 7th and Fir, Alexander, W 2nd to be built without a major redesign... the others are beyond ugly... there's no way the udp will let them by without SOME modification.

Thanks SFU! Are these the final designs?

I can't say I'm too crazy about 1134 Burrard, which is the one I'm closest to and will likely see at least twice a day. Most of the other ones look pretty good though.

1134 is an abomination. Most of them aren't great. 215 West 2nd and 590 Alexander aren't too bad, and 1233-1251 Howe is quite nice. I know they aren't supposed to be super nice or anything, this being social housing, but grey/brown concrete and stucco?

thanks for starting this thread :)

Am I the only one thinking that it's nice not to have green glass?

Cue the architectural snobs... :rolleyes:

Nice to see something going at 1050 Expo. That space is a blight. Nice walking distance from the casino too... :notacrook:

According to the late-18th century philosopher John Locke, upon whose values the Amercican constition is largely based, and, by extension, those of Canda ...... if a person is poor or out work it is THEIR fault, as everyone is reposnsible for his or her own destiny. Therefore, if some must suffer the humiliation of "going home" into one of these utilitarian, unesthetic, and downright ugly buildings, and if therefore, they are viewed with low regard, or even disdain, by society, they can only blame it on themselves.
* * * * * * *
This was supposed to be a satirical, sarcastic remark on mainstream American (and Canadain) social viewpoints. If it in fact was NOT witty, someone will tell me, I am sure.

Just as a coda to this brief missive: the way things are going for me, I'll probably end up in one of them myself, when I return to Vancouver in a few years, depending on the length of the waiting list!! :evil: :crazy2: :no:

So there are 14 sites, 8 are listed on this page, are the 6 others the following?

West Pender between Homer & Hamilton (north side of the street)
Pender & Abbott
Seymour & Drake (next to the Mark)
Main & Milross (east side of the street)
Main & 1st (SW corner)
Dunbar & 16th (SE corner)

I think so.

I think it's also Main & 1st Ave. (not 2nd).

I think the majority of them are attractive enough to suit their purpose as social housing. I would question the irony of a social housing building that is styled to be architecturally stunning.

The one on Howe, does it take up 3 parcels, from Alto to the Syncor building (5 story office job)?

The Expo boulevard one looks like it has a strip reserved for the future street car, likely owned by the city. At least thats my guess. Also that site is large enough to support a tower and allot more density, if this social housing building takes up the entire block to the bridge then its a bit of a waste. They should partner with a developer for some extra market housing on the site which would bring in more money.

Hope fully im wrong and this building doesnt take up the whole block and there is a parcel left to the east for more units to be built.

edit: it kind of looks like there might be enough space to the east to fit in a tower later on.

Main and First | May 28th 2010
 

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/6...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, May 28th, 2010.

Pender and Abbott | May 28th 2010
 

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5...tsocialhou.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, May 28th, 2010.


In light of Woodwards being inthe background:

Affordable units open at Woodwards
The Canadian Press
Last Updated: Friday, May 28, 2010
Source

Read the full article: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...#ixzz0pMjeg569

Main and National | May 28th 2010
 

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4...alsocialho.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, May 28th, 2010.

This was the first of the 14 sites to commence construction and it is nearing completion. No renders are posted at the site since we can now see what it will look like. By my count there are about 80 apartments in this building.

Man I wish I was poor enough to live in some of these buildings/areas :( (would be if I was single)

Who decided that social housing had to be new developments anyway? Meanwhile I can't even dream of moving out of my 1975 wood frame condo.

Main and First Supportive Social Housing | June 3rd 2010
 

Here's a shot of the crane going up today.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/657...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 3rd, 2010.

I never before really appreciated how much tint there was in SkyTrain Mk1 windows.

CBC was nice enough to put them all on a map, with pictures.

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/homeless-housing/

WRT the look of the buildings, it's social housing. Top architects should not be paid vast sums of taxpayer money for designs that compete with the best of free market housing.

I would hope that these were designed by architects looking for a start in the business, looking to introduce their own style on Vancouver instead of being insipid carbon copies of the rest of Vancouver. Social housing should be used to introduce new ideas for design to the city landscape, as multi million dollar developers usually aren't willing to take a risk on tarnishing their investment with something too bold and daring. If the attempt falls flat, it's not like it matters, the people who have to live in them don't have much of a choice.

u can fix the tint with photoshop :) my photoshop is on my dead PC :( hopefully it comes back repaired

I love the pictures. Thanks for the share. Brings back memories.

which of the "newly" announced projects will be in the ground 1st? the one on Expo is what I heard...and soon!.......anyone else?

oh man I hope the expo one is the last one and by then the government runs out of money and sells the land and someone builds something decent.

I just hope they build enough units to go around. There actually people (very few in number) who choose homelessness, but for everyone else, it should be made a social crime, with the government as the defendant.

Main and First | June 16th 2010
 

First and Main social housing
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 16th, 2010.

Too late.....BUT there is that other city owned site at Expo/Beatty and Nelson....right beside the Concord project THE MAX >> http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...02765&t=h&z=19


and I know the rumors were that it would get flipped to Concord by the City.....I sure hope so.....

Karis Place | June 23rd 2010
 

Karis Place
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9084/p1200639.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 23rd, 2010.

Is the Mark going to go up against that black wall?

Mark is officially u/c too, abeit at excavation stage. Might there be any possible clashes with Karis place when the Mark reaches a certain stage in construction? Like with the cranes? I can't recall seeing two abutting towers done by separate developers simultaneously under-construction.

they probably wont by the time the mark has it's crane up this guy should have it's crane removed.

I don't see a black wall.
What are you referring to?

Think he meant blank wall.

Social Housing update | June 25th 2010
 

Regarding the blank wall, yes, The Mark will be built adjacent to it.

Social housing on Pender at Homer.
http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/3...onpenderan.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 25th, 2010.

Social Housing on Abbott at Pender.
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/3...onpenderan.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 25th, 2010.

Social Housing on Hastings at Princess. (not one of the 14 sites)
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3...onhastings.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 25th, 2010.

wow, abbott and pender went up quick... amazing how much time is saved when parking isn't included =)

June 30th update
 

First and Main social housing
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6577/...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 30th, 2010.

Pender and Richards social housing
http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/3...ardssocial.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 30th, 2010.

Pender and Richards social housing from the Vancouver Lookout
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/3...ardssocial.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, June 30th, 2010.

Ad hoc social housing update | July 14th
 

First and Main social housing
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/657...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, July 14th, 2010.

Karis Place social housing (Seymour and Drake)
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9...ialhousing.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, July 14th, 2010.

Pender and Richards social housing
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3...ardssocial.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, July 14th, 2010.

Pender and Abbott social housing
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6...ttsocialho.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, July 14th, 2010.

Main and National social housing
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4...alsocialho.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, July 14th, 2010.

From the Sun:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business...830/story.html

Hahaha. Residents shooting themselves in the foot. Too much democracy, I say.

^Too bad they've cut the MP social housing building from 11 stories to 8. :rolleyes:

^This one seems to have glazing in the 2nd floor now.

Carnegie Community Action Project Report
 

Have you guys read about the 'latest, most comprehensive' report put out by Wendy Pederson-led CCAP? Among a large list of conclusions, they advocate slowing gentrification in the DTES and the City to buy 50 lots in the DTES and build social housing.

http://www.vancouversun.com/Transfor...820/story.html

http://www.theprovince.com/Gentrific...327/story.html

It's a shame that this report has some interesting things to talk about in terms of approach to drug users and access to drugs and treatment. Unfortunately it's mixed in with stupid policies like keeping DTES and poverty ghetto.

Was also surprised to read that Pederson is opposed to modular housing as a potential measure to address homelessness.

she and a lot of people make their living off the backs of the poor and drug addicted of the DTES - fix their problems and she and a lot of people lose their jobs

How could gentrification in the DTES be any slower?! Sure, there's been lot's of improvements in Gastown, but how much has actually changed east of Columbia?

How about instead of the province buying up 5 properties each year for social housing that the city should expropriate the 5 worst properties every year and hand them over to developers at cost for market housing, that would place a lot of pressure on existing owners to keep their places up to standards. I can almost picture Wendy, along with Mr. Kerr and Mr. Eby working as baristas in a Starbucks in the gentrified DTES.:cheers:

A shame about the MP decision, I am starting to wonder though if the whole thing was a good plan to begin with though. I was great to see them all spread out across the city, but perhaps it would've been better to have twice as many buildings but with a better mix in each one.

that idea just sound way too prone to abuse, not to mention crosses the line with regards to private property rights.

*l* it's not a serious proposal, I know fully well that it can't be done.:tup:

Good! But be careful of entertaining people with those kinds of ideas, you never know might take them seriously!

Well, I suppose the upside to Mayor Moonbeam is that he DID beat the self-confessed Communist, who may go along with this. Gotta love Vancouver politics. :frog:

Ad hoc social housing update | August 11th 2010
 

First and Main social housing.
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/6...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 11th, 2010.

Karis Place
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/963...ialhousing.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 11th, 2010.

Photo update | August 13th 2010
 

Pender Street project
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/8...ocialhousi.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 13th, 2010.

Pender Street and Abbott project
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/7...cialhousin.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 13th, 2010.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/7...cialhousin.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 13th, 2010.

http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/7...cialhousin.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 13th, 2010.

Main Street and National project
http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/6...ialhousing.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 13th, 2010.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6...ialhousing.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 13th, 2010.

The Howe street site takes up two lots, a narrow lot with an existing single family house directly adjacent to the Alto and the Odyssey lot. Demolition and excavation is expected to commence in the fall 2010.