Controversial Shaughnessy apartment project approved by Vancouver council

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Vancouver council gave near-unanimous approval Wednesday to a rental apartment project in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood.

The four-storey apartment complex will be built at Granville Street and West 32nd Avenue and have 81 units.

The project was opposed by the Shaughnessy Heights Property Owners Association, which called the development “out of place” in the community. One Shaughnessy resident argued the building would snarl traffic and create parking problems.

But Mayor Kennedy Stewart was pleased the project is moving ahead, calling it, in a tweet, a step in the right direction.

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“Seniors downsizing and others who want to stay in this neighbourhood now have 81 more choices,” he says. “Room for renters in all communities helps build a Vancouver that works for everyone.”

Replacing 2 mansions with 81 rental homes in Shaughnessy is a step in the right direction.

Seniors downsizing & others who want to stay in this neighbourhood now have 81 more choices.

Room for renters in all communities helps build a Vancouver that works for everyone.#vanpoli pic.twitter.com/GrJ4fL1iCU

— Kennedy Stewart (@kennedystewart) July 30, 2020

Charles Gauthier, president of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, agreed.

“Will give renters options other than a Shaughnessy basement suite, legal or otherwise,” he responded.

Coun. Colleen Harwick was the only member of the 11-person council to oppose the project.

Hundreds of neighbourhood residents wrote to council to weigh-in on the apartment project, some calling the building “massive” and “insane.”

Those who support it say rentals should be welcomed everywhere given the region’s lack of available units.