Vancouver Approves Rezoning for 44-Storey Rental Towers, Adds 1,000 Homes

Vancouver City Council has approved a controversial rezoning application to redevelop the Safeway site at Commercial Drive and Broadway, allowing local developer Westbank to build three high-rise rental towers with over 1,000 new rental homes. However, critics, including affordability advocates, express concerns that the project lacks sufficient affordable housing, as only 10 percent of the units will be priced at the city-wide average rental rate, with no below-market units included. This decision comes under a pilot program that waives typical affordability requirements, aimed at generating long-term revenue for public services. Advocates argue this policy shift prioritizes developer profits over community needs, potentially exacerbating the housing crisis in Vancouver. The project is justified by its alignment with the Broadway Plan, which supports increased density near transit hubs. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between development and housing affordability in urban planning.