QUICK SUMMARY
Vancouver's city council will hear a proposal for three high-rise towers at the Safeway site on Commercial and Broadway, with heights ranging from 37 to 44 storeys. The project, which includes 1,044 rental units, faces opposition due to concerns over affordability and community impact. Public sentiment is divided, with 146 supportive and 124 opposed correspondences received.
Vancouver's city council will conduct a public hearing on a proposal for three high-rise towers at the Safeway site on Commercial and Broadway, with heights of 37, 38, and 44 storeys. This development promises to deliver 1,044 rental units, but concerns have arisen regarding the project's impact on housing affordability. Craig Ollenberger, chair of the Grandview Woodland Area Council, plans to oppose the project, arguing it caters to luxury rentals rather than addressing the community's need for affordable housing. The Grandview-Woodland Community Plan, established in 2016, requires a public plaza and emphasizes public spaces, which critics feel are compromised in this proposal. Although the Broadway Plan allows for increased residential density, it mandates that 20% of units be designated as below-market rentals, a criterion the developers have not fulfilled. The city faces pressure to approve the project given its location in a Transit-Oriented Development area. The public hearing is expected to draw significant attention, with Ollenberger noting that a speaker is already 60th in line to voice opinions. Community sentiment is currently divided, with 146 pieces of correspondence in favor and 124 against the project.