Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti says a decision by the proponent seeking approval for a 12-storey rental tower on St. Johns Street to slash the project’s number of below-market units by 80 per cent is proof the city can’t rely on private developers to build much-needed affordable housing.
Still, said several councillors considering the proposal by Vancouver-based Anthem Properties, getting 13 apartments that will be rented at 20 per cent below median rates in the Tri-Cities as determined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is better than the zero otherwise required by Port Moody’s inclusionary housing policy that doesn’t apply to purpose-built rental buildings.
Last Tuesday, Sept. 24, council approved first and second readings of amendments to Port Moody’s zoning and official community plan bylaws, sending the proposal for the 128-unit building at the northwest corner of St. Johns and Moray streets that also includes a 45,818-sq.-ft. Ismaili cultural centre, to a public hearing.
While Lahti conceded Anthem’s original pitch to make 64 of the units affordable was “ambitious,” she said she was disappointed the number had been reduced so drastically.
Coun. Amy Lubik agreed.
“I do think it’s important for-profit and non-profit developers be part of the solution,” she said.
But Coun. Diana Dilworth suggested further help may be at hand when the provincial government enacts its Bill 16 that will provide local governments with new tools designed to help secure more affordable housing. It’s expected to be in place by the middle of 2025.
Otherwise, most councillors lauded the proposal for its architecture that includes Mashrabiya latticework screens wrapped around the Ismaili cultural centre, or Jamat Khana, as well as four storeys of the building’s six-storey parking structure that will be constructed above ground.
“I think it’s a beautiful building,” said Coun. Kyla Knowles.
Lubik said the Jamat Khana will help the area’s Ismaili community reestablish itself in the city after its previous gathering space further west along St. Johns Street at James Road had to be closed because of structural problems.
“It celebrates the diversity of our community,” she said.
But Coun. Haven Lurbiecki said Port Moody could do better.
She said the apartments that range from 352 sq. ft. for studio units to 955 sq. ft. for three-bedroom units are too small and the project that will replace several commercial spaces and auto body shops compromises the city’s dwindling industrial lands without a sufficient payback of creating new jobs.
“I just can’t say yes to a sub-par residential development,” Lurbiecki said.
Second rental building also gets the green light
It was a successful night for Anthem, as the developer also achieved first, second and third readings for zoning bylaw amendments that will allow it to build a new six-storey market rental building on the south side of St. Johns at James Street.
The U-shaped structure will comprise 180 apartments as well as commercial spaces along St. Johns Street.
Several councillors said they liked changes Anthem made to its proposal since it was initially rejected by council last February. Those include a wider sidewalk in front of the commercial spaces along with increased setbacks in the structure’s upper reaches to lessen its impact on the streetscape as well as allow more light into the interior courtyard. Also, the number of two-bedroom units has been boosted from 40 to 56, although it will have five fewer three-bedroom apartments.
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