City of Richmond scraps controversial supportive housing project
The City of Richmond announced today it will terminate a proposed supportive housing project at the Cambie Road and Sexsmith Road site.
The decision comes after the province’s announcement last week, stating it would proceed with the permanent six-storey building with 90 supportive housing studios operated by Community Builders.
The province had previously put this project on hold at the end of August 2024, right before the campaign for the October 2024 provincial general election.
However, on February 6, BC Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Ravi Kahlon said the province would move forward with its construction at 3780 Sexsmith Road after determining that five other locations in Richmond were unsuitable for supportive housing.
Location for permanent supportive housing at 3780 Sexsmith Road, Richmond. (BC Housing)
Kahlon said the building would have 24/7 staffing and security features, including cameras, fencing, and lighting. Additionally, clean-up teams would help keep the surrounding areas tidy, and neighbours could report concerns through a dedicated phone line managed by the non-profit housing operator.
The project saw a significant show of public opposition in the summer of 2024, including at least one protest that attracted an estimated 500 people and an online petition with 3,800 signatures.
Richmond Council has revoked the 90-unit supportive housing project at Cambie & Sexsmith Rds due to community concerns & lack of transparency from the prov. govt. Mayor Brodie has stressed for a solution that benefits both residents & the community.
More: https://t.co/8niwL8243m pic.twitter.com/G0WX1FDsG2— City of Richmond BC (@Richmond_BC) February 13, 2025
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie held a press conference on Thursday morning, further explaining the reasonings behind the decision to halt the project.
“Council heard loud and clear from the community that it had concerns with this location and that the provincial government alarmed residents when it suspended the process before reinstating it,” said Brodie.
“While we need projects to support our residents, we must also listen to, and respect, community wishes.”
Brodie claimed that the provincial government failed to meet the needs of the residents and community because it relaunched the project in an area that “would clearly no longer have community support.”
He also said there was a “lack of transparency” with the other five sites that were dismissed by the province.
“Neither Council nor City staff have been told the location of those five sites, nor how they were supposedly evaluated,” he claimed.
The project would have served as supportive housing for residents who currently live at two temporary supportive housing buildings, Alderbridge and Aster Place, which will see their leases expire in 2027.
With files from Kenneth Chan