Plan’smarkethousingis‘baselinebusinesscase,’ cityofficialsays

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But the makeup of housing ownership in the plan drew the concern of Burnaby Citizens Association Coun. Alison Gu.

The city proposes the Burnaby-owned lands be made up of 1,076 market strata units, 300 market rental units and 233 rental units rented at 20 per cent below the market median, according to the master plan report.That would mean two-thirds of the city’s lands would be market condos, 18 6 per cent market rental and 14 5 per cent below-market rental

Gu expressed dissatisfaction with that ratio at a council meeting on April 24.

“I personally don’t think that there should be virtually any strata condominiums that the City of Burnaby builds on our own space,” Gu said at council

She asked how to direct staff to prioritize affordable housing options, including suggesting co-op housing as an example.

The city’s general manager of development, Ed Kozak, said the unit makeup presents a “baseline business case ”

“You establish a business case, you can understand how much other forms of tenure might be subsidized through those decisions,”

Kozak told council “You need to understand what level of investment is required in order to secure a level of affordability that council may wish to pursue,” he added. Kozak said staff will check back with council before coming forward with a detailed rezoning application

The master plan doesn’t put forward a specific project or tower but guides

Further Development

applications for future con-

Struction

The BC Housing portion of the site would replace the 331 rental replacement units for the tenants who will be displaced by the demolition of the HallTowers and include 875 units rented at 10 per cent below-market rates

The master plan report states BC Housing’s de- velopment will rely on a “large capital injection” from the province due to the “significant amount of non-market housing proposed.”

The city proposes “various employment uses,” including live-work units, office space, retail and commercial uses, child care and community services

The city also plans to build a road connecting Edmonds with Kingsway.