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It’s an argument Vancouver city councillors often make.

It goes something like, “It’s either we approve rental or the developer will build condos.”

It’s a line of reasoning often cited during public hearings related to so-called “for-profit affordable rental housing” developments.

The result has been that the current council so far has approved all rezoning applications for these types of projects that critics say are not affordable housing in the first place.

Councillor Pete Fry of the Vancouver Greens is not buying this argument.

In February this year, Fry voted against two of these projects that receive incentives, including an exemption from payment of development cost levies or DCLs.

In one of these two developments, the proposed rental at 1906–1918 West 4th Avenue will charge starting on the day of the public hearing the following rates: $1,646 per month for a studio unit; $1,903 for a one-bedroom; $2,756 for two bedrooms; and $3,702 for three bedrooms.

On Tuesday (April 2), council is scheduled to hold public hearings on two more rezoning applications filed under the city’s Rental 100 program.

It’s likely that the argument about rentals versus condos will again be heard.

For Fry, it’s a “straw man argument”.

“Nobody is saying, ‘Let’s not build rental and let’s just go condos instead’,” Fry told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview. “That’s a deliberate straw man argument designed to put down any kind of conversation around housing, making sure that we’re building affordable rental housing.”

According to Fry, the issue is about “what kind of rentals we’re incentivizing”.

“It’s not to suggest, ‘Let’s not build rental’. It’s just making sure that we’re delivering the kind of rental that we need,” Fry said.

“And there’s nobody clamouring to stop market rental development,” the Green councillor continued. “I think the issue that comes at play is what are we doing to address actual, real, truly affordable rentals. Why are we referring to subsidized market rates as affordable when it’s not?”

In one of the two rezoning applications up for public hearing on April 2, the rates that will start on that day rates at the 2715 West 12th Avenue are higher than average rates in the West Side of the city.

Monthly rents for a studio will start at $1,768; $2,056, one bedroom; $2,703, two bedrooms; and $3,559, three bedrooms.

Sara Sagaii of the Vancouver Tenants Union describes the rental versus condo argument as a “false dichotomy”.

According to Sagaii, there are “tools at the city’s disposal that can basically deter condo development without necessarily giving tax breaks, massive tax breaks to incentivize rentals”.

Sagaii cited rental-only zoning as an example.

“It’s the city’s job and the province’s and the different levels of government to sort of restrain the market, and push it in directions to build what people need as opposed to what generates most profits,” Sagaii told the Straight in another phone interview.