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But in many ways, the two Renfrew Street buildings line up squarely with what city hall, and many people concerned about Vancouver’s rental housing crisis, want to see: a pair of adjacent apartment buildings replacing older detached houses in a relatively low-density area near rapid transit, bike routes, schools, parks and jobs. If council had rejected these two building proposals at a time of severe rental housing shortage, developers might find it hard to imagine what could be approved.

Every piece of correspondence the city received was in support of the Renfrew projects, as was every speaker who came to address council Thursday. Not a single homeowner or representative of neighbourhood association came out to speak in opposition.

And the two city councillors who have most consistently voted against rezoning applications so far this term — NPA Coun. Colleen Hardwick and COPE Coun. Jean Swanson both supported the projects, with Hardwick saying they “tick all the boxes.”

Photo by Screenshot

The three proposals Thursday were the first under the Moderate Income Rental Housing Pilot Program, or MIRHPP, which effectively offers a trade-off to developers, allowing them to propose bigger rental buildings in exchange for permanently securing 20 per cent of the floor space for units affordable for moderate-income households earning between $30,000 to $80,000 a year.

The rules require the mayor and every councillor to enter a public hearing with an open mind. Before each one makes a decision and casts her or his vote, they must listen to the city staff, the proponents, and any members of the public who arrive to speak for or against a project.