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This project aims to add a day care, which is badly needed in the area, said Chandra Herbert. “On the one side, we are adding more units and my hope had been that with more projects on Alberni Street and more supply, we would be adding to affordability.”

“But it hasn’t worked out that way so far,” he says.

There are at least four other new condo developments under way in the vicinity.

Tenants have been slowly moving out of the rental building since the developers announced in late 2015 that they plan to take down the building. Every month, more units become vacant as leases expire and are not renewed.

The developer’s general plans for the future were “telegraphed early,” says Chandra Herbert.

“The city’s tenant relocation plan is supposed to help,” says Chandra Herbert, adding that some tenants have also been in touch with his office seeking assistance in finding new places to rent, but they have been choosing to do so anonymously because they don’t want to be seen as troublemakers in a market where it is so difficult to find a unit.

Postmedia has also spoken to several current and former tenants who say any resistance to to the developers’ plans, is muted because many residents feel vulnerable and are focused on where they will move next.

In a statement, the developers said: “Landa Global Properties and Asia Standard Americas are both committed to replacing one-for-one the 129 purpose-built rental homes that will be demolished as part of the redevelopment. There will be no loss of rental housing stock as a result of our development.