Two housing projects on Railway Avenue, one with affordable housing for women and children, the other with seniors housing, look like they’ve been given the green light.
These two development applications were unanimously supported at Tuesday’s city council planning meeting – but the affordable housing proposal met with some opposition from nearby residents.
Two people coming forward to speak against the first one, a 25-unit, three-storey apartment building proposed for Steveston Highway and Railway Avenue, raised concerns about parking and safety for children.
One resident from a nearby townhouse, Sherry Bailey, said she’d collected 100 signatures on a petition against the proposal in four days.
Bailey raised concerns about parking and safety of the children moving into the three-level apartment as well as fire safety concerns. She also said a townhouse would be preferable over an apartment building.
“This is a family-oriented neighbourhood – we like to keep the vibe,” Bailey said. “There are no other apartments in the neighbourhood.”
Brenda Rubuliak, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 43 years, told the planning committee she feels she’s getting “boxed in” in her own neighbourhood with the parking problems. She raised concerns that this proposed apartment would add to these parking woes.
Furthermore, she questioned the type of housing being brought into the neighbourhood.
“If it’s a recovery home for drug addicts and alcoholics, why is it being built across from a pub?” Rubuliak asked.
Coun. Carol Day, however, clarified that the proposed building is not a recovery home.
The 25-unit apartment is meant for long-term residents, according to Turning Point Housing Society, which will manage the building.
Deirdre Whalen, president of the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition, spoke to the committee in favour of the proposed housing project, saying the people who move in “will finally have a safe and affordable place to call home and raise their children.”
She noted there are 1,100 Richmond households on the BC Housing waitlist, indicating the need for affordable housing.
“We know low-income housing allows families to thrive and become active members of the community,” Whalen said. “This housing will change these families' lives forever.”
One resident from nearby townhouse, Heidi Peterson, questioned why there weren’t more family units – only 10 of the units will be two-bedroom units, whereas 15 are studio apartments.
On a query about whether local schools could absorb the children moving into the proposed building, city staff said they consult with school district staff when doing area planning.
The closest schools to the project are Diefenbaker and Westwind elementary schools. According to school district data from 2018, both schools were about 80 per cent full.
Kiwanis seniors housing approved
A 58-unit apartment being proposed down the road, north of Francis Road on Railway Avenue, also got the nod from the planning committee.
Half of the units are intended to be low-end rentals (LEMR units), and half will be market rentals. The building will be run by the Kiwanis Senior Citizens Housing Society.
It will be, however, built by a private company, SD Railway Homes.
Cindy Chan, president of the Kiwanis housing society, told the Richmond News it will be built with no government assistance.
While half the units will be designated “market rentals,” Chan said, in fact, they hope to keep these rents reasonable as well, although the rents haven’t been determined yet.
The society also runs the Kiwanis Towers on Minoru Boulevard, and they see the urgent need for affordable rentals for seniors.
“We see the need (grow) year after year,” Chan said.
