|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
March 29, 2004 | |
Author: |
Cameron Gray | |
Phone No.: |
7207 | |
RTS No.: |
4130 | |
CC File No.: |
5053 | |
Meeting Date: |
April 6, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of the Housing Centre and the Manager of Sustainability |
SUBJECT: |
2003 Canadian Construction Assn. Award: Mole Hill |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council receive this report for INFORMATION
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager recommends that approval of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council, through various policies, supports heritage restoration, the preservation and development of affordable housing, and the creation of a sustainable Vancouver.
PURPOSE
This report advises Council that Kindred Construction has received the Canadian Construction Assn. 2003 Environmental Achievement Award for Mole Hill.
BACKGROUND
Mole Hill consists of the West End block bounded by Comox, Thurlow, Pendrell and Bute. Beginning in the 1950s the City began buying houses in Mole Hill intending to develop the block as park as it had with the block that is now Nelson Park. By the 1990s, the houses had become among the last houses dating from the original development in the West End at the end of the 19th century, and among the last of the West End rooming houses.
In 1996, at the urging of the Mole Hill residents and West End community, the City approved the redevelopment and renovation of its Mole Hill houses to preserve their heritage and their affordability. In 1999, the City, the Mole Hill Community Housing Society and BC Housing entered into a partnership which has resulted in the restoration of the 27 City-owned houses in Mole Hill and the creation of 170 units of affordable housing. As well the project includes a new home for the Mole Hill childcare and, also on the block, a permanent home for the Dr. Peter Centre. The City leased the houses and land to Mole Hill for 60 years and for a nominal amount, and BC Housing is providing the mortgage guarantees and on-going operating subsidies. The last house was occupied in September 2003.
DISCUSSION
Mole Hill is a complex project that involved many partners and that sought to achieve multiple objectives. As the project evolved, sustainability, in addition to heritage and affordability, became one of the priority objectives. Ground source heating, storm water retention, landscape preservation and the reuse of materials were all worked into the design.
On behalf of the Mole Hill partnership, in particular the Mole Hill Community Housing Society, Sean McEwen Architects in partnership Hotson Bakker Boniface Hadden Architects, and BC Housing, Kindred Construction, the contractors for Mole Hill, submitted the project for consideration by the Canadian Construction Assn., and the CCA has now awarded Kindred and its partners CCA's 2003 national Environmental Achievement Award.
* * * * *
