The Kiwanis Seniors Society will bring their plans for expanded seniors housing to the public this fall, but with some changes to their original designs.
West Vancouver council voted to move forward to the official community amendment and rezoning phase, required because of the increase in density on the 21st Street site, at a meeting last week.
The society's original plan, tabled in March, called for the replacement of five older buildings near Gordon Avenue containing 51 bachelor units with two new buildings with a total of 140 onebedroom senior units. Since then the society has agreed to switch nine of the units to bachelor suites and step back the top floor of the building to maintain light on the neighbouring Pauline Johnson elementary school field.
As well, development cost charges for community amenity contributions have been waived by the district for the low-income housing provider, the only one of its kind in West Vancouver.
"Kiwanis have been there for us in the past and delivering this type of service to the community," said Coun. Bill Soprovich, who moved the motion. "Kiwanis is asking us for a little help, and without that help I don't think they could proceed."
Council also asked staff to report back on whether residents were properly relocated after one resident attended council to say he hadn't found a new home that worked for him.
"Not everybody has been offered a place to live, that I know for a fact," said Tina Zanetti on behalf of the resident, adding that he was concerned about having to move away from doctors and services. "The places that they've been offered to live, a few places were not in West Vancouver."
Patrick McLaughlin, a director with Kiwanis, said his group has a plan to relocate seniors living in the existing buildings, adding that they've found homes for all but a handful of them and have agreements signed that will give them priority in returning once the new building is built. He estimated that only a handful, five or fewer, had yet to sign an agreement for a new home, and that all would have new homes by September.
"We also paid for all their moving expenses and will pay for them to move back as well," he said. "It's a big effort to help them make that transition."
