Tenants living in some of the most affordable neighbourhoods in the city could soon face demoviction after Vancouver City Council rejected staff’s recommendation to slow the pace of new development in the Broadway Plan area.

In order to limit the displacement of tenants, City staff presented Council with four choices that would have capped the yearly number of redevelopments in select neighbourhoods near Broadway — including older apartments and other housing in Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant and Fairview —which represents about 25 percent of Vancouver’s purpose-built rental stock.

The ABC majority, however, backed by more than 20 developers who spoke at Wednesday’s meeting, rejected all three versions and accepted the last option that would see no restrictions on development. “It [pace of change] doesn’t make any sense at all [given] the housing crisis we’re in,” said Reliance Properties president Jon Stovall. “The Broadway Plan is supposed to be about the future,” remarked realtor Robert Moore. “It’s [pace of change] really about protecting the past.”

The plan was defeated in a 7-2 vote, with only the two Green Councillors, Adrian Carr and Pete Fry, opposed. Mayor Ken Sim recused himself from voting by declaring a conflict of interest because of his many associations with business owners and developers in the Broadway Plan area. Cllr. Rebecca Bligh was absent.

Cllr. Sarah Kirby-Yung said that Vancouver welcomed 60,000-65,000 new immigrants last year, and that “significant housing will be needed.” As well, she said Council is under pressure from the provincial and federal governments to get more housing built, especially along the coming Broadway Subway.

Most Councillors and developers agreed the Tenant Relocation Protection Plan (TRPP)—created under Vancouver’s previous mayor and touted as offering the strongest tenant protections in North America —together with wait times for building permits and rezonings, plus economic ups and downs, will create a natural pace of change. Adding another layer of bureaucracy, said one developer, is “ludicrous.”

Cllr. Pete Fry, who voted in favour of Wednesday’s motion, said he lacks confidence the TRPP will protect tenants. “The sad reality is, ABC has made it impossible to protect renters in our city. Killing the Renters Office, not funding Broadway Plan staff in 2023’s budget, and today’s decision not to limit the destruction of existing rental stock ensures the City does not have the staff, resources, or replacement housing necessary to keep-up with the thousands of households per year who will need the TRPP,” he said in a Green Party press release.

Under the plan’s protection, eligible tenants in the Broadway Plan area are provided right of first refusal to move back into the new building with a 20 percent discount off average market rents, or at their original rent at the time of rezoning or development permit application, whichever is less.

The Vancouver Tenants Union was not impressed by Council’s response to the Pace of Change policy, calling it “a distraction.”

Read this informative post by CityHallWatch.

A young student, one of only two renters living near Broadway who spoke to the proposal, told Council she has moved seven times in the last five years looking to find suitable accommodation in Vancouver. The only reason she found a place, she said, was because she offered her landlord higher than-asked for rent. “It’s important that development is slowed a little, she said, adding that the coming demise of affordable housing in the Broadway Plan area is about gentrification. “It [Broadway Plan] threatens students, seniors, new immigrants.”

Vancouver renter Linsea Ann O’Shea is facing demoviction from her affordable Eastside co-op. By pushing more and more unaffordable housing, O’Shea says, Vancouver is destined to become a city of haves and have nots. “I foresee a near future of the elite and those housed by BC Housing, and very, very few in between. Civic and provincial governments need to listen to the citizens experiencing the housing pain points rather than those causing it.” O’Shea, who has petitioned the City for months, told UKRA that, “To date, not one politician has afforded me 15 minutes of their time.”

Cllr. Boyle proposed an amendment that directed staff to prioritize social, supportive and co-op projects with a high ratio of new below-market rental housing units compared to existing rentals, and those with minimal displacement of tenants. Councillors Carr and Fry supported Boyle’s amendment, but it was defeated by the ABC majority.

Cllr. Mike Klassen said that as long as Vancouver is in a housing crisis, more housing must be built. “We have to get out of dry dock and get this boat out to sea,” he said of the Broadway Plan.

An amendment by Cllr. Kirby-Yung that calls on staff to monitor the progress of redevelopment in the Broadway area and keep Council apprised of housing projects was approved.