Despite having turned down two rental-housing projects, members of the North Vancouver District council say building affordable housing is still a priority.
The first project was proposed for the old Delbrook Recreation Centre site on West Queens Road. The Catalyst Community Development Society had planned to build a five-storey building with 80 non-market rental apartments and an 18-bed seniors respite care facility. Council rejected it in December in a 5-2 vote.
Coun. Mathew Bond said the problem is a lack of political will, and some people seem to be waiting for the “perfect” project without defining what that would look like. Coun. Jordan Back, who along with Bond voted in favour of the Delbrook project, agreed, calling the two nixed proposals innovative. Price said, however, he’s willing to be proven wrong, and there are chances coming up for council to show its commitment to building affordable housing.