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City, mayor to deliver new affordable housing

Vancouver City Council moved forward yesterday with a series of actions to create new affordable housing and protect renters in Vancouver, while increasing engagement with citizens and neighbourhoods.
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Vancouver City Council moved forward yesterday with a series of actions to create new affordable housing and protect renters in Vancouver, while increasing engagement with citizens and neighbourhoods.

 “Housing affordability is one of Vancouver’s most urgent challenges, and today’s decision initiates a comprehensive set of actions to make our city a more affordable place to live,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson.

“This is about creating affordable housing that respects neighbourhood character – housing that the market is currently not producing.

“It’s about working together to build the housing our city desperately needs: affordable units for seniors who need to downsize, for young families who want to live where they work and for students starting out on their own.”

Council voted to accelerate work on an affordable-housing authority, as well as a review of regulations to enhance building upgrades and protections for renters. It also voted to proceed with a new affordable housing interim re-zoning bylaw, enabling up to 20 projects to be considered near major transit arterials, provided they are 100% rental or sold at 20% below market value.

Robertson also directed staff to consult with the city’s citizen advisory groups during the next eight months to get feedback and report back to council by June 2013.

The mayor said that the new Affordable Housing Authority, diverse new forms of affordable housing and new measures to create and protect rental housing are crucial steps to improve affordability.

“Vancouver needs 1,500 new rental units every year just to meet demand, which is why we need a whole host of diverse new affordable housing options to ensure that life in Vancouver is a realistic prospect for seniors, young families, students and future generations.”

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@JHarrisonBIV