A slew of new units will be available for rent near the bustling Phibbs Exchange transit hub.
At a council meeting July 8, District of North Vancouver council voted unanimously to approve a 91-unit apartment building replacing four single-family lots at 1504-1520 Rupert St.
When complete, the structure will contain 19 studio, 39 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom units. Seven of the units will be offered at below-market rates: one studio, five one-bedroom and one two-bedroom apartment.
According to a staff report, the median rent for a one-bedroom unit in the district was $2,173 in 2023. The proposed below-market rate (less 15 per cent) for one of those units is $1,847.
The building will include six enhanced accessibility units, 51 vehicle parking stalls and 152 bicycle parking spaces. There will also be nine bikes available as part of a sharing program.
As part of the proposal, the developer will give $950,000 in off-site amenity contributions, with a bike lane, improved sidewalks, landscaping, streetlights and water system upgrades.
The sale of a lane allowance from the district for $1.8 million will go into the municipality’s coffers.
The proposed development falls within a provincially designated transit-oriented area, and could not be challenged by council for density or height concerns. It also conforms with the official community plan, so no public hearing could be held.
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Coun. Jim Hanson said he was pleased to support the application.
Market and especially the non-market rental willcontribute to affordability in the district in a meaningful way, he said, while offering constructive feedback about how parking was factored into the proposal.
“Given the proximity to transit and this location, I would be content with zero parking for this kind of development, and hope that we consider that in the future and as a vehicle to further improve affordability,” he said.
Noting parking issues in the Maplewood area following redevelopment that’s taken place there, Coun. Lisa Muri asked if a parking plan is in the works for the Lower Lynn area.
There will be a dedicated resource looking at parking, said Peter Cohen, general manager of engineering infrastructure services for the district.
“That will include looking at the town centres and the [transit-oriented areas] that this particular development relates to,” he said.
While not appearing to be against the proposal before her, Muri did take the opportunity to vent frustrations about council’s inability to dissent against such projects, per provincial rules.
“I’d just like to thank you (the developer) for coming and speaking, because the province has taken away this requirement where we used to give the community an opportunity to give us their thoughts on these applications and the evolution of the community,” she said.
“Because if we don’t support this, well, we’re not sure what happens. One of us may go to jail – we all could go to jail. But the province has told us that these things should just be approved. And we haven’t tested turning any of them down yet,” Muri said.
