DTES housing losses grow
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 by David Eby
God forbid we suggest this trend is linked to the Olympics, but in the past 3 months, 5 low-income housing buildings in the DTES have closed or given out eviction notices. City hall seems powerless to stop the evictions, and the Province seems indifferent.
The low-income housing buildings closed or closing include the Phoenix Apartments, the Columbia Hotel, Marie Gomez Place, 334 Carrall Street and the Backpacker's Inn. The total loss of housing units in the past 90 days amounts to over 200. In their recent buying spree, the province bought just short of 500 units of SRO housing at a cost of over $10m.
The Marie Gomez Place closed because it was a "leaky condo" type building. Replacement housing is expected to be constructed on the site before 2010.
The Phoneix apartments is now for sale. The Columbia Hotel now illegally rents entirely to tourists and may have closed to low-income residents more than three months ago. 334 Carrall Street is converting to strata units for private sale. The Backpacker's Inn allegedly wishes to renovate, but is likely clearing to facilitate the sale of the building - it has been for sale for over a month now.
Further details on the evictions are available in a helpful Vancouver Sun article here.
The low-income housing buildings closed or closing include the Phoenix Apartments, the Columbia Hotel, Marie Gomez Place, 334 Carrall Street and the Backpacker's Inn. The total loss of housing units in the past 90 days amounts to over 200. In their recent buying spree, the province bought just short of 500 units of SRO housing at a cost of over $10m.
The Marie Gomez Place closed because it was a "leaky condo" type building. Replacement housing is expected to be constructed on the site before 2010.
The Phoneix apartments is now for sale. The Columbia Hotel now illegally rents entirely to tourists and may have closed to low-income residents more than three months ago. 334 Carrall Street is converting to strata units for private sale. The Backpacker's Inn allegedly wishes to renovate, but is likely clearing to facilitate the sale of the building - it has been for sale for over a month now.
Further details on the evictions are available in a helpful Vancouver Sun article here.
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And the Dominion?