ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 12, 1996
Dept. Files No. F682, F845
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Manager of the Housing Centre
SUBJECT: Non-Market Housing Sponsor Selection for City-owned 27
West Pender Street and 1205-1213 Seymour Street Sites.
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the Vancouver Native Housing Society be appointed as
sponsor for the City-owned site at 27 West Pender Street
and that an application be submitted to the 1996 Homes BC
Proposal Call.
B. THAT the Affordable Housing and McLaren Housing
Societies be appointed co-sponsors for the City-owned
site at 1205-1213 Seymour Street and that an application
be submitted to the Homes BC 1996 Proposal Call.
C. THAT no legal rights and obligations are hereby created
and none shall arise hereafter except upon execution of
all necessary legal documents by all of the parties.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of
the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
On May 28, 1996, Council decided In Camera to "seek a sponsor to submit
the City site at 27 W. Pender for a 1996 Homes BC allocation to develop
the site for housing serving downtown low-income singles with the
potential to include a relocated Crabtree Corner, for
report back to Council" and to also "seek a sponsor to submit the
City site at 1205-1213 Seymour for a 1996 Homes BC allocation to develop
the site for housing serving the downtown low-income singles, for report
back to Council."
It is City practice to purchase private lands and lease them to
non-profit groups for 60 years at a prepaid rent of 75% of freehold
value for social housing development.
It is also Council policy that a list of potential sponsor and resource
groups for non-market housing projects on City-owned sites be
maintained, and that eligibility for the list be determined by
evaluating each submission based on a Council-approved criteria and
weighting system.
DISCUSSION
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced support for the
development of 950 new affordable homes for 1996 under its HOMES BC
program on April 19, 1996. The call consists of up to 800 units for
families, seniors and individuals with special needs and up to 150 units
for homeless/at risk housing. The latter group includes vulnerable
individuals (i.e., mental illness) in need of second-stage and permanent
housing. The call closes on July 31.
On May 28, 1996, Council authorized staff to seek sponsors for two
City-owned sites suitable for mainly low income urban singles at 27 West
Pender Street and 1205 - 1213 Seymour Street.
In mid-May, proposal call packages were sent to 18 non-profit
societies. Sixteen are on the Council-approved list of potential
sponsors for Downtown singles and urban natives on City-owned sites.
(Two societies had recently enquired about the availability of the sites
for non-market housing development.) Five societies applied for the 27
West Pender site and 4 applicants (including a joint application by two
societies) applied for the 1205-1213 Seymour Street site. Two societies
expressed interest in both sites.
Each application was evaluated using the criteria and weighting system
approved by Council for groups wanting to get on the City's general list
for City-owned sites which includes an assessment of the project
proposed.
The criteria included:
Society Credentials
Housing Expertise and Management Philosophy
Projects Operated by Society
Links with Community or Neighbourhood Organizations
Housing Needs and Waiting List or Prospective Tenants
Housing Project Proposed for the site.
The Housing Centre recommends that Vancouver Native Housing Society
(VNHS) be named as sponsor for 27 West Pender. This society has a
proven track record of developing and managing 11 projects in East
Vancouver. Many aboriginal people live in the Downtown Eastside. It
would benefit the neighbourhood to have a project which gives priority
housing to this group. VNHS proposes to include a family component
which is compatible with Crabtree Daycare, which may relocate into the
project, and the mixed family/singles project by CBA across the street
in Block 17.
The Housing Centre also recommends that the Affordable Housing and
McLaren Housing Societies act as joint sponsors for the 1205-1213
Seymour Street site. Their proposal targets Downtown South SRO hotel
residents, consistent with Council's housing priorities. A component of
the project will house HIV-positive residents which, given the proximity
to St. Paul's Hospital, is an ideal location for housing for this group.
If these societies are successful in obtaining unit allocations from
BCHMC, arrangements will be made to ensure that priority be given to
local area residents in tenant selection.
All applicants have been notified of the Housing Centre's
recommendations to Council.
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