Village Vancouver

Vancouver's Leader in Transition toward Strong, Resilient, Complete Communities

Speakers needed for Heather Place Public Hearing

Event Details

Speakers needed for Heather Place Public Hearing

Time: March 25, 2014 at 12pm to April 16, 2014 at 12am
Location: Council Chamber Third Floor, City Hall
City/Town: Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Phone: 7788475695
Event Neighbourhood and Type: community, engagament
Organized By: Karen Elaine Gilchrist
Latest Activity: Apr 11, 2014

Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)

Event Description

On April 15th, Vancouver city councillors will be voting on the redevelopment of Heather Place, 86 units of truly affordable family housing in central Vancouver. Many tenants of Heather Place are at risk of losing their housing forever – I, Karen Gilchrist, am currently one of those tenants.

Myself, a single mother of Nadia Kim (Age 8) and a Social Worker at the Burnaby Hospital would not be where I am today without the support of our Heather Place Community & this affordable housing provided by Heather Place. Today 46 % of single mothers in BC live below the poverty line. We need more affordable housing to support more families raising their children out of the current poverty cycle.

Today’s Heather Place has a total of 86 units of truly affordable family housing. 22 units are subsidize and geared to income for low-income people; the rest of the units are affordable rental at $900 for a one-bedroom and $1,100 for a two-bedroom apartment. These rates are expected to increase by 70% in the new Heather Place redevelopment, starting $1,800 for a two-bedroom apartment. These rates are just not affordable.

After years of pressure from tenants, Vancouver councillors and the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation have made a promise of conditional financial support for the displaced tenants of Heather Place. But these promises are both vague and full of loopholes. Instead of attaching affordability to the unit, the city is offering a flawed model of uncertain, conditional financial support. Because of its numerous loopholes, the current plan makes it so that a one-for-one replacement of affordable housing is impossible.

This loss of affordable housing is a serious concern for myself and my daughter. BC has the highest child poverty rate in Canada, nine years running. In order to escape from the cycle of poverty and disadvantage, BC’s children need truly affordable housing. Rent is the largest expenditure of a family household's budget and truly affordable rent can make the difference in a child’s life.

Please join us to send a strong message to council that affordable housing matters.

Please call to be added to the speakers list. You will be allowed to speak for five minutes directly to city council. 604-829-4238 or email publichearing@vancouver.ca or call Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator, at 604.871.6353 or email laura.kazakoff@vancouver.ca

Please request your number in line to speak when you sign up.

When you speak to council, please tell them that this is an opportunity to decrease the child poverty in BC by increasing the truly affordable housing stock in Vancouver. The only way to do that at Heather Place would be to replace all 86 units of truly affordable rental units, not just 26 units they state they will replace in their proposal. Vancouverites can and should take the opportunity to request that Metro Vancouver and the City of Vancouver either renovate the existing affordable units at Heather Place, or build the full 230 units of housing proposed for the Heather Place site as truly affordable rental.

Thank you!

Karen Gilchrist and the Save Heather Place campaign

Comment Wall

Comment

RSVP for Speakers needed for Heather Place Public Hearing to add comments!

Join Village Vancouver

Comment by Karen Elaine Gilchrist on April 11, 2014 at 9:58pm

POTLUCK/BARBECUE by the PURPLE SLIDE!! Dear Friends of Save Heather Place Come on Over this Saturday, April 12th from 3:00 to 5:30pm as we discuss Heather Place issues and prepare to speak at City Hall Tuesday April 15th, Cheers! See you Soon! (If it rains we will head inside!) 733 west 14th Ave Phone 778-847-5695

Comment by Karen Elaine Gilchrist on April 11, 2014 at 9:57pm

BC Parents & Children Please Come to Vancouver City Hall 3rd Floor Council Chambers April 15th, 2014 @ 6pm to Demand Homes for BC's Low income Children. BC has the Highest Poverty Rate in Canada 9 years running with Rent being the largest expense out out of a Family's Income.
Demand Vancouver City Council Build & Maintain Truly Affordable Homes for Low Income Children at Heather Place aka Children's Place.
Current Plans for $1800/Month Will Increase BC's Child Poverty!
Thank you for Sharing, Karen Gilchrist, BA (Dev. Psych.), MSW, RSW, Single Mother of Nadia Kim Age 8, Residents of Heather Place since 2006.
If completely unable to come to Vancouver City Hall on April 15th @6pm then Please Call 311 City Hall and let them know the above.
EVERY KID in BC deserves a TRULY AFFORDABLE HOME!
With Great Appreciation Karen & Nadia.

Comment by Karen Elaine Gilchrist on April 11, 2014 at 9:54pm

f you are concerned about the redevelopment of Heather Place, make sure to register to speak at the April 15th council hearing. Here is a short guide to help you prepare a speech.

Comment by Karen Elaine Gilchrist on April 11, 2014 at 9:52pm
Comment by Karen Elaine Gilchrist on March 28, 2014 at 6:56pm

Again the City defining $1800 for a two bedroom as Social Housing!!

If the City wants to call it Social Housing they better make it ALL really Social Housing for BC's KIDS Living 9 years with the highest Child Poverty Rate in the Country!!!!
How can you not be affected? Your tax dollars are likely going to build Housing not for Low Income Children but for Families who can afford $1800 per month for a two Bedroom, while actual low income children and their families live in sub-standard housing if not in shelters and transiton houses IF they are lucky!! PLease Sign up to Speak Out for 5 minutes our Children!! NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING – 706-774 West 13th Avenue and 755-799 West 14th Avenue (Heather Place)

Please find attached as a PDF the Notice of Public Hearing for the above application. This notice has been distributed to households in the vicinity of the rezoning site. To find out how to speak at the Public Hearing, see the information below.

The Public Hearing will take place:
Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at 6 pm
COUNCIL CHAMBER, THIRD FLOOR
CITY HALL, 453 WEST 12TH AVENUE
to consider amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law.

If approved, the zoning for 706-774 West 13th Avenue (north lot) and 755-799 West 14th Avenue (south lot) would change from CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District 147 to two new CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) districts. On the south lot, one building of five storeys, with an floor space ratio (FSR) of 1.60 and 67 units of social housing, is proposed. On the north lot, two buildings of six and 10 storeys, with a FSR of 2.84 and 163 units of social housing, are proposed. A seventh level rooftop garden is proposed for the six storey building.

Anyone who considers themselves affected by the proposed by-law amendments may speak at the Public Hearing. Please register individually beginning 8:30 am on Friday, April 4, 2014 and before 5 pm on April 15, 2014, by:
e-mail: publichearing@vancouver.ca
phone: 604.829.4238
Or register in-person between 5:30 and 6 pm on day of the Public Hearing.

For more information on Public Hearings and registering to speak, please visit: vancouver.ca/publichearings.

For more information regarding this proposal, visit: vancouver.ca/rezapps; or contact Michael Naylor at 604.871.6269.

City of Vancouver
Planning Department | Rezoning Centre
T 604.873.7038 | F 604.873.7060
rezoning@vancouver.ca

Comment by Karen Elaine Gilchrist on March 24, 2014 at 9:31am

Please review these references for more details and see the events page for additonal information https://www.facebook.com/events/299167300232995/: Iam able to clarify if this information seems unclear @ 778-847 5695.

First Call Poverty Report Card: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-has-highest-chil...
MVHC proposal stating they are only attempting to fund 26 units at rent geared to gross income and the remaining residents at 230 at $1800 per month for a 2 bedroom defing all 230 units as Social Housing. "http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20140311/documents/p3.pdfWht Heather Place Renoviction is Not Affordablehttp://themainlander.com/author/natekaren/ Access TV on Heather Placehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm7-4v59U-w 2012 Vancouver Sunhttp://www.vancouversun.com/news/Vancouver+residents+affordable+housing+complex+fear+home+will+levelled/6172624/story.html

Attending (2)

Village engages individuals, neighbourhoods & organizations to take actions that build sustainable communities & have fun doing it. Join us!

Donate or Join VV Transition Society

Join VV Transition Society

Make a donation here or here:

Become a Monthly Donor here or here (click on desired option before hitting subscribe):

Buy Books -- Support Village Vancouver

Village earns 15% on your book purchases from New Society Publishers. Details here.

Latest Activity

Village Vancouver's event was featured
Thumbnail

*Depth of Field: Film Screening and Community Event at Community Hall, Kitsilano Neighbourhood House

March 21, 2024 from 5pm to 8pm
Mar 18
Village Vancouver posted an event
Thumbnail

*Depth of Field: Film Screening and Community Event at Community Hall, Kitsilano Neighbourhood House

March 21, 2024 from 5pm to 8pm
Mar 18
Soeine Bac updated their profile
Dec 4, 2023
Megan Vancouver joined Village Vancouver's group
Nov 14, 2023

Ongoing Activities

Interested in getting involved or volunteering with Village Vancouver? check out http://www.villagevancouver.ca/page/volunteering-1.

Regular activities:

Interested in participating in a VV garden? We have collaborative gardens/garden spaces in 5 neighbourhoods. Contact us at gardening@villagevancouver.ca. Gardening now in progress. New gardeners welcome (space allowing).

Kits Village Recycling Depot (Kits Community Centre) Next depot: Thursday, June 15th

Main St. Village monthly gatherings (1st Tuesdays Little Mountain Neighbourhood House) Currently on hold due to COVID

Permaculture Vancouver Meetups (3rd Wednesdays VV McBride Park Fieldhouse (sometimes elsewhere) Next meetup: Special date Thursday, July 29th

West End Community Potluck/WE Urban Garden Club (3rd Sundays West End Community Centre, in July and August 4th Thursdays - July 22nd and August 26th.

© 2024   Created by Yael Stav.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service