A light industrial property in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver is being considered for temporary modular housing.

The plan is to provide housing and services for the city’s homeless.

In order to do that at 323 Alexander Street, the City of the Vancouver has to modify its Regional Context Statement Official Development Plan to allow residential use.

The Vancouver Charter requires city council to prepare and adopt a regional context statement in alignment with the regional growth strategy of Metro Vancouver.

The city’s online site for rezoning applications identifies the Atira Development Society as proponent of the temporary modular housing project.

“The amendment would temporarily change the designation of this site from Industrial to General Urban, while the property is occupied with Temporary Modular Housing,” the city explains online.

Moreover, the proposed amendment will be presented for approval by city council sometime this year.

The 323 Alexander Street site measures 2,397 square metres.

“Temporary modular homes are located on vacant and underused sites across the city and are typically on site for a period up to 10 years,” the city notes.

In May 2020, the Straight reported that Barrick Gold Corporation obtained a reduction in the provincial assessment of 323 Alexander Street and the adjacent property at 369 Alexander Street.

The assessment of 323 Alexander Street fell from $24,708,100 to $17,851,100.

Meanwhile, 369 Alexander Street dropped from $13,205,900 to $9,540,900.

The Straight reported at the time that two properties were listed for sale at $33,775,000.

An online check with B.C. Assessment shows that 323 Alexander Street has a 2021 assessment of $13,916,600.

The agency notes that the property was sold on July 17, 2020 together with “multiple properties”.

Meanwhile, the 2021 assessment of 369 Alexander Street is $8,075,200.

Online, B.C. Assessment notes that this property was sold on July 20, 2020 together with “multiple properties”.