Council greenlights towers up to 45 storeys for East Vancouver neighbourhood

A major expansion is coming to the East Vancouver community of Rupert, as city council votes in favour of a plan that will allow for residential towers.

Vancouver city council voted unanimously in favour of a plan that will bring drastic change to an east side neighbourhood currently comprised of mostly single family homes.

The Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan calls for towers up to 45-storeys in some areas and more gentle density, including low-rise apartments and townhomes, throughout the community.

“It will finally allow us to build thousands of new housing units close to rapid transit. Many of those will be rental units, but also some ownership options and different community amenities, shops and services,” said ABC Coun. Peter Meizner.

The areas immediately adjacent to Renfrew and Rupert SkyTrain stations currently provide a mix of commercial and industrial uses.

The area plan calls for those employment areas to remain, with more dense residential zoning farther away from the stations.

Only seven people signed up to speak at the hearing Tuesday, and most of them said they generally supported the plan.

Two speakers said the area was too large for one community plan and they would prefer to see council move ahead in phases with different approaches for different parts of the community.

The area encompassed by the plan stretches from Kamloops Street in the west to Boundary Road in the east, and from Parker Street in the north to East 27th Avenue in the south.

Before voting in favour, rookie COPE Coun. Sean Orr asked city staff whether the plan will allow for a mix of housing for low-income households.

“Twenty-seven percent of the population makes less than $50,000 a year and that’s my biggest concern,” Orr told CTV News. “That’s why voters elected me, to make sure these people aren’t left behind.”

According to city staff, protections are in place for renters who may be forced out by new developments and the plan includes social housing and co-ops.

It is considered a long-term plan and will take decades to fully transform the area.