East Vancouver redevelopment to add 100 new units at seniors housing site

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      A public hearing has been scheduled regarding a proposal to redevelop an affordable seniors housing site in East Vancouver.

      If approved, the project will add 100 new housing units, plus the replacement of the current 57 units, for a total of 157.

      The nonprofit Brightside Community Homes Foundation filed a rezoning application to build two new six-storey buildings on East 12th Avenue.

      The development will replace the Loyal Orange Manor at 1425 East 12th Avenue, and the adjacent Edward Byers House at 1451 East 12th Avenue.

      “The social housing is to be owned, operated and managed by Brightside with the intention to continue providing affordable housing that will be required to be rented to seniors or persons with special needs, meaning at least one member of the household is aged 55 or older or has special needs,” Theresa O’Donnell, deputy director of current planning with the City of Vancouver, wrote in a report to council.

      According to O’Donnell, current rents at the existing homes range from $320 to $1,108 per month.

      The average monthly rent is $703.

      “The City’s requirement is for social housing buildings to include a minimum of 30 percent of units as affordable to households with incomes which fall under the BC Housing Income Limits (“HILs”) levels, while the remaining 70 percent can be at market rents,” O’Donnell wrote.

      The project will involve replacement of the 57 existing social housing units, meaning Brightside will “exceed the affordability requirements of social housing by securing a minimum 36 percent of the building (57 units) as affordable to households with incomes below HILs”.

      “The 57 units will be rented at levels which qualify for rent supplements under the Shelter Aid for Elderly Residents (SAFER) rent subsidy program,” O’Donnell explained.

      SAFER is a provincial program for people aged 60 and over.

      In Metro Vancouver, an elderly person cannot qualify for a SAFER rent subsidy if the individual has a monthly income of $2,550.

      At that income, and using 30 percent of gross income for shelter as affordability measure, the same person can afford to pay a monthly rent of $765.

      In addition, a couple in Metro Vancouver will not qualify under SAFER if they have a monthly income of $2,750, which translates to a monthly rent of $825.

      B.C. Housing’s HILs reflect income required to afford housing in the private market.

      The 2019 HILs indicates that one must have an income of $51,500 to afford a one-bedroom unit in Vancouver.

      This translates to a monthly income of $4,291 and rent of $1,287.

      The public hearing on the 1425 an 1451 East 12th Avenue rezoning application is scheduled on July 21, 2020.

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