Families, seniors, and people living with disabilities in Vancouver have more affordable housing options as Heather Place Building B opens.

“These 87 new and affordable homes in Vancouver’s Fairview neighbourhood will give workers, seniors and families a stable foundation to thrive in the community,” said Christine Boyle, B.C.’s Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “These homes are a demonstration of what’s possible when we work together to deliver housing that meets people’s needs. As we continue to build more homes, we’re also strengthening communities, making them more livable, inclusive and resilient.”

Heather Place Building B, at 788 W. 13th Ave., will feature studio units, and one-, two- and three-bedroom homes that are either accessible or meet universal design standards to support seniors and people living with disabilities. The homes will offer a range of rental options, such as affordable market rates, rents geared to household incomes and deeply subsidized units.

“Our government is focused on delivering housing for the people of Vancouver and across the country,” said Taleeb Noormohamed, MP for Vancouver Granville, on behalf of Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “Supporting Heather Place B is one of the ways we do that. I’m proud of our involvement in this project and of the tangible difference it will make for people in this community. Welcome to the new residents.”

Metro Vancouver, through Metro Vancouver Housing, will own and manage the homes. Residents will enjoy indoor and outdoor spaces, such as a gymnasium, gathering rooms with kitchens, community gardens and storage areas, as well as on-site child care.

“I’m pleased to see the latest addition to our housing portfolio is finished three months ahead of schedule and is ready for renters,” said Mike Hurley, chair, Metro Vancouver’s board of directors. “One thing we really need in this region are high-quality rental homes that are within reach of working families and seniors, and Metro Vancouver is working hard to provide apartments to help fill that gap.”

Heather Place Building B is one of many projects being delivered under the 10-year partnership between the Province, through BC Housing, and Metro Vancouver, through Metro Vancouver Housing. This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, is on track to deliver approximately 2,000 new non-market homes across the region.

“This is great news for Vancouver families,” said Brenda Bailey, MLA for Vancouver-South Granville. “New homes with rents people can afford, along with purpose-built child care spaces, are exactly what a growing community needs. Heather Place Building B will give residents the stability and support they need to live, work and raise their families right in the heart of the city.”

This partnership is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has delivered or is underway with more than 93,600 homes throughout the province, including more than 26,350 homes in Metro Vancouver.

Quotes:

Lisa Beare, B.C. Minister of Education and Child Care –

“Access to affordable, high-quality child care is a game-changer for families. Through strong collaboration with our partners, our government continues to deliver new child care spaces throughout B.C., allowing more families to breathe a little easier, empowering parents to pursue work opportunities, and providing safe and reliable spaces for children to learn and grow.”

Sunita Dhir, MLA for Vancouver-Langara –

“Affordable homes and accessible child care are the cornerstones of a thriving community. These new homes reflect our commitment to building a more inclusive Vancouver where families, seniors and workers can put down roots and feel supported in the community they call home.”

Dan Ruimy, chair, Metro Vancouver’s Housing Committee –

“Redeveloping and expanding existing housing sites is one way Metro Vancouver Housing is maximizing the number of new homes it can deliver in a region where land is at a premium. As a result, tenants benefit from having beautiful, modern homes with excellent amenities in established neighbourhoods.

Yan Zhabin, tenant, Heather Place Building A –

“When my family and I came to Canada from Ukraine three years ago, we were looking for a home that was nice, safe and close to things like transit, the grocery store and schools. Heather Place was a perfect fit for us. This new building will help more people in Vancouver find affordable homes they love.”

Quick Facts:

• The Province, through BC Housing, provided approximately $20.9 million to the Heather Place Building B homes.
• The federal government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), has provided approximately $31.9 million through the Affordable Housing Fund in contributions and low-interest loans.

Learn More:

To learn how B.C. is working to deliver more homes for people, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/homesforpeople

To learn more about Metro Vancouver’s housing projects and services, visit: https://metrovancouver.org/services/housing

A backgrounder follows.