New Vancouver fire hall with social housing for mothers reaches completion
A unique mixed-use redevelopment in East Vancouver has a new replacement firefighter station and affordable homes for low-income single mothers and their children.
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In partnership with YWCA Metro Vancouver, the municipal government officially opened Fire Hall No. 5 and YWCA Pacific Spirit Terrace today at 3090 East 54th Avenue — the southwest corner of the intersection of East 54th Avenue and Kerr Street.
The first two levels of the six-storey building provides Vancouver Fire Rescue Services with a new replacement facility for Fire Hall No. 5 in the Champlain Heights neighbourhood, including three fire truck bays and firefighter living quarters.
Artistic rendering of the new Vancouver Fire Hall 5 and YWCA Pacific Spirit Terrace housing complex. (Johnston Davidson Architecture / City of Vancouver)
“We’re pleased to see the opening of this newly upgraded Fire Hall, which has been constructed to meet current and future needs as its community grows,” said Vancouver Fire Chief Darrell Reid in a statement.
“The hall has living facilities that are ideal for our diverse workforce, a dedicated facility for filling and servicing breathing apparatus, and has been designed with minimal environmental impacts in mind.”
Amazing to see the planning and innovation that’s gone into the new Firehall 5! Thank you to all the speakers who helped us open and celebrate this new shared-use facility! pic.twitter.com/sTxW4RM9Zi
— Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (@VanFireRescue) December 2, 2019
Innovative use of @CityofVancouver land to deliver an amazing new @VanFireRescue @IAFF18 Firehall 5 w critical facilities to guard against toxins firefighters are exposed to, in conjunction with 31 housing units above for single moms partnering with @YWCAVAN. A first in Canada. pic.twitter.com/jrsdhGSjME
— Sarah Kirby-Yung 楊瑞蘭 (@sarahkirby_yung) December 2, 2019
The upper four levels provide 31 new homes for between 65 and 90 women and children. This portion of the building is fully operated by YWCA, with homes available for rent between $520 and $1,164 per month. Residents will have access to a rooftop patio and a wide range of YWCA services.
“This is the second mixed-use housing community we have opened in partnership with the City, and we are grateful for their ongoing support and willingness to explore these innovative housing solutions,” said YWCA Metro Vancouver CEO Deb Bryant.
The city provided $11 million covering the cost of the new fire hall and $6.66 million towards the new social housing, which carries a full cost of $11.37 million. YWCA fundraised the remainder of the housing costs, which included contributions from the provincial government, federal government, Pacific Spirit Foundation, and Streetohome Foundation.
Johnston Davidson Architecture, a Vancouver-based firm that has designed dozens of stations across BC, is behind the project’s design.
Artistic rendering of the new Vancouver Fire Hall 5 and YWCA Pacific Spirit Terrace housing complex. (Johnston Davidson Architecture / City of Vancouver)