The first 4 apartment buildings under the Broadway Plan are facing a public hearing this Tuesday. Expressing your support via the City's comment form just takes a minute (registering to speak is even better)! There isn't even much to say: these are nice buildings that serve a desperate need in high-demand locations; they should be able to get built in more places and without needing to jump through so many hoops! Consider sending a quick note in support of:

6. 2156-2174 West 14th Ave

Why it's good:

• 170 secured rental homes close to Broadway and the new SkyTrain line.
• 20% of homes (20% of floor space) permanently below market, 20% below CMHC average for all apartments (not just new-build rents).
• A small local retail unit on the ground floor for a more complete neighbourhood.
• Close to Arbutus Greenway, great for active transit, and just 5 short blocks from the Arbutus subway station.

7. 2175 West 7th Avenue

• 182 secured rental homes.
• 20% of the floor area secured for below market homes (approximately 35 units).
• Broadway Plan tenant relocation policy: Tenants displaced by the building demolition receive a rent top-up while displaced and can return to the new building at their same rent, or 20% below CMHC average, whichever is lower.
• Limited car parking with sufficient bike parking encourages more public & active transit use in this central area near SkyTrain. Less parking means less traffic.
• Close to Arbutus Greenway and Delmont Park; great for active transit!

4. CD-1 Rezoning: 523-549 East 10th Ave

• 175 secured market rental homes
• 20% of the rental homes (by floor area) permanently below market.
• Childcare centre for 25 children, which, like housing, we desperately need more of in Vancouver.
• On the 10th Avenue bikeway; great for living & for active transit.
  Limited car parking with sufficient bike parking encourages more public & active transit use in this central area near SkyTrain. Less parking means less traffic.

Could be better:

• The City should close 10th Avenue to cars in front of this building to make a better & safer bike route, especially since 10th is sandwiched between two arterials that will not have bike lanes (Broadway & 12th), and to reclaim space for a linear park, moving towards the City's goal of reclaiming 10% of road space for residents. The City's slow-moving approach will only make this harder to do in the future; the time to do it is now, before new residents and businesses move in.

3. 728-796 Main Street and 205 Union Street

This one is not in the Broadway Plan but is fairly close. It is just a "text amendment" to a previous rezoning to change from 20% social housing to 100% social housing, along with a small increase in height and floor space, at this great project from Hogan's Alley Society.

• 108 homes, all social housing (versus 19 originally approved).
• Will create needed housing for residents of temporary housing across the street.
• St. Paul's Hospital will bring a lot of housing demand to the area.

Don't forget to fill out the comment form and/or register to speak before Tuesday (Nov. 12) at 5pm!

* they are not exactly the first apartments, but the first batch of off-arterial apartments.