The new 17-storey building set to built at 611 Main St in the heart of Chinatown.
Vancouver city council heard public opinion last week regarding the development of a 17-story mixed use building in the heart of Chinatown. The proposal, approved by council, will create 134 new housing units, 22 units of social housing reserved for seniors and a mix of retail and office space at the corner of Keefer Street and Main Street.
Those who spoke were predominantly local business owners who supported the injection of vibrancy and prosperity the project promised in a space currently occupied by a long abandoned casino building or social housing advocates fearful of the city’s new gentrification boogie man.
Notably, the project contains social housing units only for seniors and not low-income residents. While 11 units will be rented at no more than the shelter rate of $375 per month, six units will be rented out at the Vancouver housing income limit of $850 and the remaining will be rented at full market value which is currently about $900 to $950 a month.
The City of Glass 