Metrotown plan raises ‘demoviction’ fears
Activist says ‘inhuman development scheme’ creating anxiety among low-income groups
Neighbourhood activists are wondering how affordable rental housing fits into Burnaby’s plan to make Metrotown its new downtown core.
The Metrotown Downtown Plan update is meant to set the tone for future development in the neighbourhood, which is currently home to about 25,000 residents.
The plan states that about 125,000 more people will have moved to Burnaby by 2041 and Metrotown — one of four city centres — is expected to accommodate many of those incomers.
The planning process began last May and was followed by a period of public input. A draft plan was introduced in November and the second phase of the public input process ended Feb. 1. The final plan is expected to go to council in March.
According to the draft plan, there are about 12,000 residential units in the Metrotown area, from high-, mid- and low-rise apartments to townhouses and single-family homes. Forty-two per cent of households rent and more than half of Metrotown households earn less than $40,000 per year.
Rick McGowan of the Metrotown Residents’ Association said the emphasis is on density and the group doesn’t feel the plan is inclusive.
“It’s not inclusive in the sense that everyone can afford to live in Metrotown, which in my opinion is part of a complete neighbourhood,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Alliance Against Displacement says it has heard from countless residents who are afraid the Metrotown plan will accelerate what they call “demovictions,” when landlords sell affordable lowrise apartment buildings — home to many seniors, people with disabilities or low-income families — which are then demolished and replaced with condominium towers.
“I just think this is a completely inhuman development scheme that needs to be redeveloped and rethought,” said Dave Diewert, an organizing member of the alliance.
“These (residents) are really susceptible to market-driven policies that will displace them,” Diewert said. “The anxiety in those buildings ...”
Mayor Derek Corrigan said the plan for Metrotown covers the next 30 years and, if it’s approved, change won’t happen overnight. He doesn’t believe people will be evicted any faster than if there is no updated plan.
The city is doing what it can to encourage rental housing to be built, with a density bonus program, zoning allowances and cheap leases for low-cost housing projects, Corrigan said, but the provincial and federal governments need to step up, he added.
“We’ve been trying to cope with this for a decade, trying to find ways to deal with the affordability issues and the social housing issues,” Corrigan said.
“For municipalities, where we get very little of the tax dollar, if you don’t have the federal and provincial governments playing you’re pretty much flummoxed.”