Real Estate

Greater density sought in single-family zone along southern section of Dunbar Street

by Charlie Smith on July 25th, 2020 at 10:22 PM
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      A developer hopes to win council's approval to develop nine secured market rental units along a posh, tree-lined West Side street filled with single-family homes.

      Diamond Group Architecture Inc. has filed a rezoning application on behalf of Pingham Holdings Ltd. to include the units in two residential buildings at 6031 Dunbar Street.

      This would increase the floor-space ratio from 0.70 to 1.10 and the height from 10.7 metres to 11.5 metres. 

      Gil Kelley, the city's general manager of planning, urban design, and sustainability, has recommended that council approve the project. It's south of West 43rd Avenue.

      On June 23, council referred the proposal to a public hearing, which will take place on Tuesday (July 28).

      The proposed development wouldn't involve dramatic changes to building heights in the area.
      City of Vancouver

      A staff report says the project meets the intent of the Affordable Housing Choices Interim Rezoning Policy, which was last amended by the previous council in 2018.

      "Rezoning applications considered under the AHC Policy must meet a number of criteria such as providing 100 per cent of the residential floor area as secured rental housing, contextual fit with neighbouring development and location requirements," the report states.

      If approved, six units will be in the front building and three more units will be in the rear building beside a lane.

      There would be four two-bedroom units, three three-bedroom units, and two four-bedroom units, ensuring that it would be 100 percent family-oriented.

      An average two-bedroom unit in a newer West Side building rents for $3,059 per month, according to the staff report. A three-bedroom unit in a newer West Side building costs tenants $3,876 per month.

      "Vancouver has one of the lowest vacancy rates in Canada," the report notes. "In the fall of 2019, the vacancy rate in the city was 1.0 per cent.

      "That means only 10 out of every 1,000 market rental units were empty and available for rent. A vacancy rate of 3 per cent is considered to be a balanced rental market."

      More than 50 people attended a community open house about the project on March 10 at the Dunbar Community Centre.

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