The proposal includes three buildings at heights of eight, 33, and 37 storeys, containing 88 social housing units, 308 rental units, and 269 strata units.
A proposal to turn Vancouver’s Langara Family YMCA into mixed-use towers will go before city council on Tuesday.
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Under the plan the YMCA, located at 282 West 49th Ave., would be redeveloped into three buildings at heights of eight, 33, and 37 storeys.
Vancouver’s general manager of planning, urban design and sustainability recommends council rezone the land to permit the mixed-use development, and allow for residential, retail, service, institutional and cultural and recreational uses.
The site is located in the Langara neighbourhood one block east of the Langara-49th Avenue SkyTrain Station, and is part of the city’s Cambie Corridor plan to develop the area to meet housing demands near transit.
It’s also near Langara, Tisdall, Columbia, and Cambie parks and the Langara Golf Course.
The land is owned by YMCA BC Properties Foundation. If approved, it would be redeveloped by Musqueam Capital Corp. in partnership with Townline Homes Inc.
Adopted in 2018, the Cambie Corridor plan aims to identify areas the city can redevelop to provide affordable housing options. Staff say the plan supports redevelopment of the Langara YMCA land by introducing new housing options and amenities within proximity of rapid transit.
City laws for social housing require at least 30 per cent of units to be occupied by households with incomes below the B.C. housing income and that rental rates for such units be no higher than 30 per cent of the household income. Housing policy also requires a minimum of 35 per cent of family units, targets that staff say the Langara development would meet.
Letters of support to the city suggest residents are in need of more affordable housing, with one person stating that she works in Vancouver but can’t afford to live there, while those opposed to the plan are either concerned about traffic congestion or question why there’s no swimming pool or gym planned for the community centre.
Staff support the application, subject to design development and other conditions, and recommend that the application be referred to a public hearing.
