I was forwarded this email from Vancouver’s housing planner, Dan Garrison, which gives the detailed list of social housing projects completed, under construction, in development and you name it from 2005-2010. This is helpful for everyone because at least now the various sides in the debate over whether the provincial government and city are doing enough can work from some common figures.

There are lots of annotations to put on this list, to remind people of the history. One of the historical facts that many, many people seem to overlook is that the new B.C. Liberal government froze all social-housing projects not actually under construction in the fall of 2001. Some of the current projects being built are buildings that were originally approved back in 2000 or earlier, like the 87 units at 1321 Richards. I’m sure there are more on that list — perhaps the people who keep even more obsessive track of these things can write in with their historical information.

As well, I see at least four projects that were initiated by previous councils, including the 111 units at the Performing Arts Lodge, the 30 units at the RainCity Triage project, the 45-unit Doug Story building (Jim Green’s favourite, with its replacement of a previous SRO, the Passlin Hotel, by the new Doug Story as part of Millennium’s L’Hermitage project on Richards) and, of course, the 200 singles and family units in Woodward’s.

There is, of course, always the debate over whether the hotels the government and city have bought count as new social housing or just preservation of stock that was always used by people at risk of homelessness.

I await your analysis of whether this list of numbers indicates a serious attempt to grapple with social housing or not.

From: Garrison, Dan
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 5:15 PM
To: Mayor and Council (COV) – DL
Cc: Rogers, Judy; Andrews, Jody; Ridge, James; McLellan, David; Gray, Cameron; Best, Laurie; Young, Jennifer; Toderian, Brent; Davidson, Jill
Subject: Memo re: Clarification of Non-Market Housing Unit Numbers, 2005-2010

Mayor and Council,

I’ve attached a memo on Clarification of Non-Market Housing Unit Numbers, 2005-2010. If you would like to discuss this issue further, please contact Jill Davidson or me .

Rega <<Memo re Clarification of Non-market housing unit numbers, September 10 2008.doc>> rds,

Dan

<<Memo re Clarification of Non-market housing unit numbers, September 10 2008.doc>>
__________________________
Dan Garrison
Planner
Housing Centre
City of Vancouver

			COMMUNITY SERVICES GROUP Housing Centre

MEMORANDUM September 11, 2008

File: 3416

TO:	Mayor and Council J. Rogers, City Manager J. Ridge, Deputy City Manager J. Andrews, Deputy City Manager D. McLellan, General Manager of Community Services C. Gray, Managing Director of Social Development L. Best, Director of Communications J. Young, Assistant Director of Communications B. Toderian, Director of Planning J. Davidson, Senior Housing Planner
FROM:	Dan Garrison, Planner, Housing Centre
SUBJECT:	Clarification of Non-Market Housing Unit Numbers, 2005-2010

This memo provides an accounting of the number of non-market housing units completed, under construction and in development in the city. The memo clearly identifies the number of non-market units to be completed between 2005 and the end of 2010, which of these units are new construction and which of these units are conversions of private market rental housing (usually SROs) to non-market housing.

This memo also responds to an article in the Vancouver Courier dated August 20, 2008, titled Homeless Issue Numbers Game, in which the author claimed that only 521 new units of non-market housing are being created in the city. This number was taken directly from a June 4, 2007 article in The Tyee (Province’s Boasts of “New” Homeless Units Don’t Add Up). This article was published prior to the City and Province signing the MOU to develop the 12 City-owned sites, and is now out of date.

Table 1 summarizes the gross number of housing units to be added to the non-market stock between 2005 and the end of 2010.

Table 1: Gross Non-Market Housing Additions, 2005-2010 (as of August 21, 2008)¹

	New Construction	Converted Units	Gross Addition of Units
Complete 2005-2008	357	401	758
Under Construction	733	934	1667
In Development	13712	17	1388
TOTAL	2461	1352	3813

1. In addition to non-market housing, these numbers include 114 SNRF units that target low-income residents.

2. 100 units have been subtracted to reflect existing low-income units that will be lost in the redevelopment of the Drake Hotel (24) and Maria Gomez Place (76). At least 200 units will replace these units when the projects are completed.

From 2005 to the end of 2010, 3,813 units will be added to the non-market housing stock. Of these units, 2,461 are new construction and 1,352 units are conversions from the private rental market.

Projects are included in this summary if they involve non-market units generated through Provincial non-market housing programs or housing agreements with developers. Some SNRF projects are included if they target low-income residents, and these projects are identified in the attached table. This memo reports only on the number of units being produced through recent projects. It does not reflect the net change in the low-income housing stock, which is monitored through the biennial Survey of Low-Income Housing in the Downtown Core.

There has been significant discussion in the community about the value of converting units to non-market housing. Conversion of private market units is consistent with Council policy expressed in both the DTES Housing Plan and the Homeless Action Plan. Conversion is an important method of increasing the non-market stock. Converted units help to stabilize the stock of low-income housing, contributing to City objectives to maintain the stock of low-income housing in the downtown core. In addition to stabilizing low-income units, conversion to non-market results in a new management structure that is more supportive of low-income tenants. Rents are lowered to match the shelter component of Income Assistance (currently $375 per month), significant renovations are usually undertaken, regular maintenance schedules are implemented, and staff support is increased. These measures both assist tenants and extend the life of the stock. In most cases, it is also easier to link to support services in the community in non-market housing than it is in private rental buildings.

To provide as much information and clarity on this issue as possible, we provide quarterly progress reports on the Housing Centre website with details on all new non-market projects. In addition, we will now provide a memo summarizing the unit numbers included in the quarterly reports. We will use 2005 as the base year, as this was the year that Council adopted the City’s two principle housing policy documents, the Homeless Action Plan and the Housing Plan for the Downtown Eastside.

The attached table provides the list of all the projects from which this analysis is derived. If you would like to discuss this issue further, please contact Jill Davidson (7670) or me.

Dan Garrison

[email protected]

Phone: 604.871.6003
Fax: 604.871.6488

Attachment: Non-Market Projects (including SNRFs serving low-income residents), 2005-2010

Appendix A – Non-Market Projects (including SNRFs serving low-income residents), 2005-2010

Project Name	Address	New Construction	Converted Units	Total Non-market Additions
Completed (2005-2008)
Beulah Gardens	3355 5th Ave.	89
Dany Guincher	1436 W 71st St.		11
Doug Story	768 Richards St.	45
Tamura House	396 Powell St.		110
The Londonderry	5550 Yew St.		22
Helping Spirit Lodge	1495 Kingsway		36
Watson House	1125 Pendrell St.		8
Fraser Place*	5616 Fraser St.	30
Performing Arts Lodge	581 Cardero St.	111
Onsite*	137 E. Hastings	30
Grace Mansion	596 E. Hastings		85
Granville Residence	1261 Richards St.		82
The Vivian	512 E. Cordova		24
Jackson Ave. Coop	231 Jackson Ave.		23
Smith-Yuen Apts.	475 E. Hastings	52
Completed Sub-total		357	401	758
Under Construction
Arco Hotel	81-3 Pender St		63
Carl Rooms	575 E Hastings St		44
Drake Hotel¹	606 Powell St		24
Gastown Hotel	110 Water St		110
Kindred Place	1321 Richards St	87
The Marble Arch	518 Richards St.		150
The Marr	401 Powell St		24
Olympic Village #1	1699 Ontario	67
Olympic Village #2	199 W 1st Ave.	84
Olympic Village #3	125 W 1st Ave.	99
Orange Hall	341 Gore St.		27
Orwell Hotel	456 E Hastings		55
Park Hotel	429-33 W Pender St		50
Pender Hotel	31 W Pender St		40
Pennsylvania Hotel²	412 Carrall St	44
Ranier Hotel	307-15 Carrall St		46
Roosevelt Hotel	166 E Hastings		42
Savoy Hotel	258 E Hastings		25
Shaldon Hotel	52-60 E Hastings		55
St Helens Hotel	1161 Granville St		89
St Vincents	4875 Heather St	60
The Lux	65 E Hastings	92
The Rice	404 Hawks Ave		42
Walton Hotel	261-5 E Hastings		48

Woodwards Family	122 W Cordova St	75
Woodwards Singles	131 W Hastings	125
Under Construction Sub-total		733	934	1667
In Development
Station St	1005 Station	80
Expo Blvd	1050 Expo Blvd	100
Burrard	1134 Burrard St	100
Howe	1237 Howe St	110
Seymour	1338 Seymour	108
7th/Fir	1601 W 7th	62
16th/Dunbar	3595 W 17th	51
1st/Main	188 E 1st Ave	129
2nd/Alberta	215 W 2nd Ave	100
Abbott/Pender	505 Abbott	108
Bdwy/Fraser	675-91 E Broadway	100
AHI Lu’ma	2960 Nanaimo	20
AHI Mothers	2019 Dundas St	10
AHI Circle of Eagles	1470 E Broadway		17
Drake Hotel¹	606 Powell St	100
Maria Gomez Place	590 Alexander St	100
Coast on Pender	337 Pender St	100
Trio³*	TBD	54
Union Gospel4	601 E Hastings	39
In Development Sub-total		13715	17	1388
TOTAL		2461	1352	3813

* indicates SNRF projects that serve low-income residents, totalling 114 units.

1. Drake Hotel’s 24 rooms will be used through the 2010 Winter Games after which the site will be redeveloped for a mix of social/supportive housing and other uses.

2. The Pennsylvania Hotel is a complete renovation and heritage upgrade converting 72 rooms into 44 new self contained units. It is considered ‘new’ due to the scale of the renovation and the transformation from rooms to studio units.

3. Trio is a partnership project modelled on the Dr. Peter Centre that will include a drop in centre for Aboriginals with HIV/AIDs, the offices of Vancouver Native Health as well as housing. Funding has been allocated for the housing component but not yet for the services component and a site needs to be found.

4. UGM’s project will provide a continuum of housing from shelters, through transitional housing to independent housing. 94 beds will be provided in addition to the 39 units of housing for a total of 133 beds/units.

5. 100 units have been subtracted to reflect existing low-income units that will be lost in the redevelopment of the Drake Hotel (24) and Maria Gomez Place (76). At least 200 units will replace these units when the projects are completed.