Nearly 120 homes on the way to the Downtown Eastside

Homes for middle-income, multigenerational families, with commercial, learning, community spaces

Summary                                

  • 79 middle-income homes, plus an additional 39 deeply affordable homes for people on income assistance will be available in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
  • This project will provide urgently needed rental housing, including for individuals and families
  • It will include the UBC Learning Exchange, which provides low-barrier, free community programs, experiential student learning, and support for community-driven research
  • It will also feature inclusive commercial spaces for small businesses and social enterprise, as well as a community theatre for Indigenous, Chinese-Canadian and Japanese-Canadian communities

 

VANCOUVER - People in the Downtown Eastside helped shape the creation of new multi-use housing and community spaces that are being built to provide urgently needed rental housing for individuals, families and multigenerational households.

“Through consultation with residents and local groups, this new housing has been designed in partnership to meet the unique needs of the community it serves,” said Christine Boyle, B.C. Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “By taking a heritage-conservation approach that prioritizes continuity and connection, this project honours the neighbourhood’s rich history, celebrates the diverse communities that have shaped the Downtown Eastside and builds on the community-based resources already in place.”

Located at 172 Cordova St., this project is the result of a partnership between the Province through BC Housing, the federal government through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the City of Vancouver, the UBC Learning Exchange and MAC Development and Housing Society.

When built, the 11-storey building will have nine storeys of housing made up of a variety of unit sizes, from studios to three-bedroom homes for families and multi-generational living.

“Our government is committed to helping communities develop local solutions to housing need and homelessness,” said Hedy Fry, member of parliament for Vancouver Centre, on behalf of Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. "These 118 homes will have a real impact on the families who will be living here, and with every project like this one, we’re getting closer to the country we want – one where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.”

Community collaboration and design

The project design prioritizes community-building and heritage conservation. More than 30 conversations with residents and community groups informed the project concept and were incorporated into the overall design.

Developed by a team that included a civic historian and Indigenous consultant, the function and appearance of the building aim to celebrate the histories of Indigenous, Chinese-Canadian, Japanese-Canadian and other communities that have long called the Downtown Eastside home and are expected to be reflected among the future residents of the building.

Mixed-use building spaces

The building will include four primary types of spaces:

  • Residential: MAC will own the building and operate the rental homes. MAC society is the result of a partnership between Lu’ma Native Housing Society, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House and Affordable Housing Non-Profit Rental Association, bringing together more than 100 years of combined experience.
  • Educational: UBC has bought approximately 930 square metres (10,000 square feet) to operate the UBC Learning Exchange on the ground and second floor. The UBC Learning Exchange provides low-barrier, free community programs, experiential learning opportunities and support for community-driven research.
  • Community theatre: a community theatre space will be located on the ground floor and is intended to be leased by a non-profit society to provide space for use by local community arts groups.
  • Retail Spaces: ground-floor commercial units will be leased to local retail vendors, with funding to be invested back into the building upon completion.

This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has more than 99,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including almost 13,000 homes in Vancouver.

Quotes:

Marcel Lawson Swain, director, MAC Development and Housing Society –

“The Downtown Eastside deserves sustainable housing that honours its community. Uniting the operational expertise of our nonprofit founders with financial backing from CMHC and BC Builds proves collaboration drives lasting change. This development includes community spaces designed to foster belonging, giving residents not just a roof, but a stable foundation for opportunity and generational growth.”

Benoit-Antoine Bacon, president and vice-chancellor, University of British Columbia –

“UBC has long been committed to working with the people and communities of Vancouver. We are proud to be a core long-term partner in a new project that further strengthens this work by providing a new home for the UBC Learning Exchange, advancing reciprocal learning and research, and meaningful community engagement in the Downtown Eastside.”

Sunita Dhir, MLA Vancouver-Langara, and parliamentary secretary for international credentials –

“For people in the Downtown Eastside, affordable housing is an important part of building stability and putting down roots. This project brings together housing, learning, local businesses and community arts in a neighbourhood with a long history and strong community character. It responds to a range of housing needs, while creating more opportunities for residents to connect, participate and feel at home.”

Ken Sim, mayor of Vancouver –

“We’re proud to support the delivery of 118 new affordable homes and new opportunities for learning, culture and community connection in the Downtown Eastside. By providing the site, we’re helping make these homes possible, creating stability and a sense of belonging, while delivering lasting benefits for residents alongside our partners.”  

Quick Facts:

  • The Province, through BC Builds, will fund 79 homes for people with middle incomes.
  • Nearly 50% of these homes will be at 20% below market rates.
  • This is more than the standard for BC Builds-funded projects of 20% of units at below market rates and creates deeper affordability for renters.
  • The project will have an additional 39 deeply affordable homes for people on income assistance, which will be owned and managed by MAC Development and Housing Society. 
  • These homes are for families, individuals and seniors in need of affordable rental homes on the Downtown Eastside.
  • The target tenant group includes people with a range of low and middle incomes, particularly multigenerational families, seniors, Indigenous Elders, and people with disabilities.

Learn More:

Contacts
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Media Relations
[email protected]
BC Housing
Media Relations
[email protected]