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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Soroptimist International of Vancouver plans housing tower

Soroptimist International of Vancouver is planning to redevelop their property at West 13th Avenue, demolishing an existing rental building and replacing it with a 13-storey rental tower.

GBL Architects designed the new social housing tower, which will contain 135 units, 47 of which (35 per cent) will be family-friendly. There will be 47 underground parking stalls and 250 bicycle parking spaces.

The existing building on the site, the “Soroptimist Apartment House”, was built in 1960, but the history of the club in Vancouver goes back much further. In April 1926, women holding executive-level positions in the City of Vancouver banded together to form the first Soroptimist Club in Canada and only the second within the British Empire. The club opened a hostel on the site in 1932.

The design highlight of the new tower is its undulating, horizontal ribbons. The architects say the building’s “organic, fluid, light and airy expression” is intended to align with the values of the society.

Renderings: Soroptimist International of Vancouver housing

Soroptimist International of Vancouver - View from West 13th Ave pedestrian interface
View from West 13th Ave pedestrian interface. Credit: GBL Architects
Soroptimist International of Vancouver - Amenity space on level one
Amenity space on level one. Credit: GBL Architects
Site location at 546 West 13th Avenue
Site location at 546 West 13th Avenue. Credit: GBL Architects

The housing units will be targeted to senior women, single mothers and their children, and workforce women. On the top floor (level 13) of the tower, a large amenity terrace will offer great views of the city, seating areas and landscaping planters. Adjacent to the outdoor terrace are two indoor amenity rooms.

The development is the result of an engagement process with Purpose Driven Development and Planning in 2018, to review the society’s real estate assets with an eye to building housing for women by women, to provide safe, affordable, sustainable housing. 

The project is the second major social housing development proposed in Vancouver this fall. In November, redevelopment plans were announced for the Ismaili Community Center and Jamatkhana at 508 Drake Street in downtown Vancouver. The centre will be redeveloped with a 40-storey social housing tower with multi-generational social housing, worship and community space, operated by the MCYH Multigenerational Housing Society.

View of social housing tower at 1317 Richards
View looking south and aerial view looking south of upcoming social housing tower at Richards and Drake. Credit: DA Architects and Planners

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Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner is an experienced journalist and media relations professional, based in Vancouver. As founder of urbanYVR.com, he has been reporting on urban development across the Lower Mainland since 2016, and has also served as vice-chair of the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee. In October 2022, he was elected to Vancouver city council and is no longer actively reporting for urbanYVR.

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