Support Moderate Income Apartments in Kitsilano!

What, Where, When:

A proposal for a 6-storey, Moderate Income Rental Housing Pilot Program (MIRHPP) apartment building at 3084 W 4th Avenue and 2010 Balaclava Street is going to public hearing at Vancouver City Council on Thursday, Feb. 11th at 6:00 p.m.

Why this Project Needs Your Support:

• 20% of the building will be permanently affordable to moderate incomes (starting average $30k income for studios up to $64k for 2 bedrooms). Moderate incomes are under-represented in Kits compared to the rest of Vancouver.
  
• This is a small apartment building on a street with many other apartment buildings, but is “controversial” because it is in Kitsilano, and unfortunately, Kitsilano has an organized opposition to new housing, which is typical of wealthier, whiter areas of Vancouver. An opponent of a previous MIRHPP project openly said it would be “dropping the ghetto in Kitsilano.” And ultimately, pushing new apartments out of Kits puts more pressure on other areas of Vancouver and our region - not to mention existing rental housing stock.
  

• People aged 25 to 44 have been getting pushed out over the past decade, and Kitsilano has fewer children than most Vancouver neighbourhoods. The project will add 13 much-needed 2 bedroom homes that are suitable for families with children. This building can help make Kitsilano a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant neighbourhood, as well as  support local businesses.

Send Your Comments to City Council:

Click this link to open the online feedback form. Fill it out as follows:

Subject: 3084 W 4th Ave and 2010 Balaclava St

Position: Support

Comments: The more of a personal story you can tell, the better. Possible general comments can include things like:

• Kitsilano desperately needs more rental homes, especially for moderate incomes.
• I would like to live here someday.
• I currently live in a basement suite and would like to move above ground and have a balcony.
• I am a homeowner but I recognize that renters face a shortage of adequate housing.
• Wealthy neighbourhoods should not be able to refuse new rental housing. It is unfair to areas that are doing their part and puts pressure on existing rental housing throughout the city, increasing displacement.

Fill out your personal information and check “Send me a Confirmation” by your e-mail so that you will know that your comments were successfully received. Finally, be sure to click “Send your comments” at the bottom of the page.

General Info from the City’s Rezoning Page:

• 35 secured market rental units (with 20% of the residential floor area assigned to moderate income households)
• A floor space ratio (FSR) of 2.95
• A gross floor area of 2,027.5 sq. m (21,824 sq. ft.)
• A building height of 20.23 m (66.37 ft.)
• 15 vehicle parking spaces and 54 bicycle parking spaces

References: 

Feb. 11th Public Hearing Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20210211/phea20210211ag.htm

City of Vancouver rezoning project page: https://shapeyourcity.ca/3084-w-4-ave-and-2010-balaclava-st

Kitsilano Social Indicators Profile: https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/social-indicators-profile-kitsilano.pdf