Modular housing for the homeless proposed for Vancouver's Little Mountain site

The Little Mountain redevelopment site in Vancouver from the intersection of West 37th Avenue and Main Street. (Google Maps Streetview)

The City of Vancouver’s next proposed site for temporary modular housing for the local homeless population is in the Riley Park neighbourhood.

A site at East 37th Avenue near Main Street – located on Holborn Group’s 15.2-acre Little Mountain property – is slated to become a three-storey modular building with about 50 single-occupancy units.

Like other modular housing projects in the city, each unit will have a private bathroom and kitchen, and residents will share the building’s communal spaces. As the residents have particular needs, the building will also be managed 24/7 by an experienced non-profit housing operator that will provide support services.

The proposed site is located on phase two of the Little Mountain redevelopment. If the modular housing project is approved, it will remain on the site for about three years, after which it will be replaced by the permanent development.

The placement of the modular housing project on the site does not affect the schedule of the permanent redevelopment due to its phased plan.

This project, like other modular housing developments, is subject to a development permit and a public consultation period.

“Little Mountain has been identified by the City as the next potential site for temporary modular housing. The big goal of temporary modular housing is to bring our friends, family, and neighbours in off the street and provide them with a safe place to call home,” said Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson in a statement.

“We are engaging with people and community groups in the Riley Park neighbourhood to ensure that the new building is well-integrated into the area and that our most vulnerable residents are housed in a responsible way.”

Artistic rendering of modular housing. (City of Vancouver)

With $66 million in funding provided by the provincial government, Vancouver plans to build 600 modular housing units over the short-term.

Modular housing projects are being pursued for vacant sites owned by the City and the private sector, and such structures are not only quick to build but also cheap, which allows the government to quickly respond to homelessness.

The latest proposal at Little Mountain increases the modular housing development count to six projects, with over 300 units at various stages of the development process. A total of 78 units have already been built while 130 units have been approved, 52 units are under review as part of the development permit process, and about 50 units are in the pre-development permit application phase.

As for the future permanent redevelopment at Little Mountain, Holborn Group is building 1,300 units of market housing, 282 units of social housing, retail and commercial space, and public amenities such as neighbourhood house, daycare facility, a village square and other public spaces.

Approved modular housing units (208)

7430 & 7460 Heather Street (78 units that have been built)
1115, 1131, 1141 Franklin Street (39 units under construction)
501 Powell (39 units under construction)
4480 (formerly 4410) Kaslo Street (52 units)

Under review through the development permit process

595 and 599 West 2nd Avenue (52 units)

Pre-development permit application (approximately 50 units)

Little Mountain (approximately 50 units)

See also