The governments of Canada and British Columbia along with the City of Vancouver announced combined funding of more than $91 million for a major affordable housing project last week. It will build 154 new homes for people living and working in Vancouver.
The new building at 981 Davie Street in Vancouver, located in the heart of Davie Village. (CNW Group/Government of Canada)
The 17-storey building is located at 981 Davie Street, in the heart of Davie Village. The project will be a mixed-use development and will include 154 residential units and commercial space. The project will be designed to passive house standards for exceptional energy efficiency. It will use less heating and cooling energy than conventional buildings and reducing operating costs. It is also built with mass timber, which reduces carbon emissions and reduces the building’s overall carbon footprint.
Residents will have access to indoor and outdoor amenity spaces. These include a garden, quiet space, fitness and play area, outdoor dining and BBQ area, and an outdoor deck overlooking Davie Street. Two underground levels will provide 13 vehicle parking spaces and 259 bike parking spaces.
Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2026.
CLT Executive Director Tiffany Duzitra talks with Mike Hoche and Ilm Kassam from the McLaren Housing Society of BC.
Community Land Trust is a non-profit society established by the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC. Its purpose is to create, preserve, and steward permanently affordable homes. McLaren Housing Society provides safe, secure, and affordable housing and support services for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. It provides opportunity for improved health, wellness, independent living, and sense of community.
The first two floors will be the new home for QMUNITY, a non-profit organization that works to improve queer, transgender, and Two-Spirit lives. Qmunity offers programs and support services including free counselling, information, referrals, and one-on-one support.
Quotes
Safe, secure, and affordable homes involve an assembly of solutions and working with all three levels of government. With this investment, Community Land Trust in partnership with McLaren Housing Society, will be providing 154 homes to individuals and families living and working in Vancouver. We are proud of all involved on this project and the continued support to increase the availability housing in BC.
–Tiffany Duzita, Executive Director of Community Land Trust
I’m thrilled to see this development move forward – a rare example of all three levels of government working with the community housing sector to produce 154 permanently affordable homes.
– Thom Armstrong, CEO Co-operative Housing Federation
Stable housing is fundamental to health and hope. McLaren Housing Society, in strong partnership with the Community Land Trust, and with the unwavering support of local, provincial, and federal governments, is thrilled to embrace the opportunity to create new subsidized homes for people living with HIV. This initiative stands as a powerful testament to our steadfast commitment to supporting and empowering individuals living with HIV.
– Ilm Kassam, Executive Director of McLaren Housing Society
QMUNITY’s new home at 981 Davie Street is a dream that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in BC have been working towards for over four decades.
This building is more than a foundation layed of bricks, but a home. A home where we can provide dignified experiences in employment and service to those within queer, trans, and Two-Spirit communities across all of British Columbia. A new home eliciting the new realities of queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people that differed from the segregated and oppressed spaces in the city 40 years ago.
This building is our renewed hope in providing accessible services for all 2SLGBTQIA+ folks across BC.
3 October 2023 
