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Purcell Way condos, Cap U student housing praised at public hearing

A proposal to demolish a rundown and failing 90-unit condominium complex with one more than twice the size, including dedicated housing for Capilano University students, got mostly straight As at a public hearing Tuesday night.
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A proposal to demolish a rundown and failing 90-unit condominium complex with one more than twice the size, including dedicated housing for Capilano University students, got mostly straight As at a public hearing Tuesday night.

Residents at the 40-year-old Lynnmour South condo complex at 1923-1959 Purcell Way learned in 2015 that the building’s structure was failing and it would cost upwards of $100,000 per unit to repair. Facing the dilemma, the strata’s members voted 84 per cent in favour of selling the property.

Woodbridge Northwest Homes beat out other developers in an open tender, offering the 90 owners $29.5 million, with the option to stay for a year past the closing date and six months’ free rent or equivalent money towards a down payment on one of the new units. The B.C. Supreme Court approved the winding down of the strata earlier this year.

The deal, however, is subject to district council approving Woodbridge Northwest’s plan for 124 condo units and 60 townhouses to be built on the property along with 60 200-square-foot microsuites which would be owned by Capilano University and rented exclusively to students enrolled at the North Vancouver campus.

Dozens of owners showed up to the public hearing, urging council to approve the project, sparing them from hardship and debt.

“There are a number of us who are on fixed incomes and will be unable to finance or will be ineligible for financial help that is needed,” said Sue Buchanan. “As much as I love it here, I would be bankrupt and have to walk away.”

Debbie Freeman, also a Lynnmour South condo owner, said she too would be ruined if council turned down the application.

“I’m here today because I love my condo. I do not want to move. I have to move,” she said. “I am on a pension. I can’t afford this. I will be bankrupt. We are mostly retired people, working-class people, young families in this building now. Those costs would completely destroy my (standard of) living.”

Woodbridge Northwest’s proposal is also “an amazing opportunity” for the North Shore, Freeman added. “The buildings are beautiful. They fit into the neighbourhood.”

There were holdouts, however, including two residents who argued that the money Woodbridge Northwest was offering wasn’t enough, and that the repairs could be done cheaper than what the strata’s official reports suggested.

Council and staff repeatedly stressed, however, that they must make their decision based on the merits of the Woodbridge Northwest’s proposal, and that it wasn’t for them to intervene in the strata’s affairs.

Members of the Capilano University community, including the school’s president as well as current and former students, turned out hoping to persuade council to vote in favour.

Noah Berson, vice-president of external affairs for the Capilano Student Union, urged council to approve the project.

“I can speak anecdotally for friends of mine who have been days away from being homeless on campus. There have been examples of people living in their cars. There are people who camp in the woods around Capilano. The housing crisis has reached a boiling point and this residence, as far as we can tell, is going to be the quickest way to turn the temperature down,” he said.

University president Paul Dangerfield said the 60 student apartments would help Capilano compete with other universities.

“The lack of affordable housing on the North Shore continues to limit the number of students that we can attract and retain to the university,” he said.

And, Dangerfield added, the new condos and townhouses would be appealing to the more than 900 faculty and staff who work at the university, more than half of whom commute from off the North Shore.

The project does have the support of the strata board at the adjacent condo complex, at 1811 Purcell Way, which will share in a rebuilt clubhouse and playground included in the designs.

James Lewis, a neighbour from across Purcell Way, however, questioned the wisdom of tripling the number of potential residents on a road already known to have access and egress problems.

“I just don’t think you guys have done your research on what you’re putting into that spot,” he said.

Council will vote on the proposal Dec. 11.