The public will soon have their say on the massive redevelopment of the existing North Shore Neighbourhood House lands into a new community hub, adding affordable rental homes and a seniors respite centre to the city-owned block.
City of North Vancouver council voted Monday night to move ahead with plans, which could see a 30,000-square-foot replacement for the aging North Shore Neighbourhood House, up to 260 below-market rental homes in six- and 18-storey buildings on the site, and a brand new Derek Inman Park.
The city already has agreements in place with Catalyst Community Developments Society and Hollyburn Family Services to provide the below-market housing, and the Health and Home Care Society of BC to run the respite. The number of units and the rents they will be offered at will be subject to outside funding, the staff report notes.
The cost of redeveloping North Shore Neighbourhood House and Derek Inman Park would be borne by the city, though the staff report does not provide an estimate for the total bill.
By breaking the overall project into phases, the existing North Shore Neighbourhood House would stay in operation until the new facility and affordable housing is built.
The staff report notes earlier community consultations have found general support for the plan, although a petition urging council to say no to an 18-storey tower was circulated earlier this year, racking up more than 700 signatures.
Because the vote was just first reading of the bylaw, which sets up a future public hearing, council members had little debate about the proposal and its merits.
Coun. Don Bell, however, voted no to advancing it, saying he would prefer the 12-storey version, mentioned the staff report go for further consultation. Bell said it would be better urban design to have lower buildings with each block extending east from Lonsdale Avenue.
“I think it should be a transitional heights going down,” he said. “I'm in favour of a new North Shore Neighborhood House. I'm not in favour of 18 storeys of affordable housing above it, as opposed to 12 storeys.”
Coun. Tina Hu moved the city go ahead with the recommended 18-storey option.
“I want to reiterate that this is city-owned land for a project that provides a brand new North Shore Neighbourhood House and three other non-profit organizations with below-market housing,” she said. “I would like to see this moving forward to public hearing so we can hear the comments from the residents.”
The vote passed 6-1 with Bell opposed.
