New $7-million LGBTQ community centre to be built in Davie Village

Davie Village's iconic rainbow crosswalk for the LGBTQ community. (Shutterstock)

A new community centre for Metro Vancouver’s LGBTQ community will be built at a site on the eastern end of Davie Village – at the northeast corner of the intersection of Burrard and Davie streets.

The 38-year-old QMUNITY centre currently occupies a small second level space in an antiquated commercial building at Bute and Davie streets, and it has been seeking a new larger space for over a decade. It is a non-profit organization that provides free counselling, youth support, and health and educational resources for individuals who identify as LGBTQ.

The construction of its new 10,000-square-foot home on a property recently acquired by the City of Vancouver will cost $7 million, which is being funded by a community amenity contribution from the nearby 54-storey Burrard Gateway project by the Jim Pattison Group.

The existing buildings on the property will be demolished for a redevelopment that includes the new QMUNITY centre, retail space, and over 110 units of affordable housing. These plans are subject to rezoning, no construction timeline has been made public.

A $200,000 capital grant has been provided by the municipal government for QMUNITY staff to commence the design and planning phase of the new facility.

The property on the northeast corner of Burrard and Davie streets is owned by the City of Vancouver and will become the new home of QMUNITY. (Google Maps Streetview)

“I’m very pleased that we have identified a location for an expanded, dedicated space for QMUNITY. This exciting new facility gives QMUNITY a new community centre for our queer, trans and Two-Spirit residents and I’m proud to support it,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson in a statement.

“Vancouver is a leader in our commitment to equality, acceptance and inclusion – we’re a stronger and more vibrant city for it. QMUNITY provides an essential safe and secure space for the individuals they serve; this new space will meet their growing needs now, and for years to come.

Sites that were previously considered for the new QMUNITY centre included Gabriola Mansion, the old St. Paul’s Hospital after its relocation to the False Creek Flats, and the community garden on the northwest corner of Burrard and Davie streets.