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Normally, when developers want to tear down the low-rises on their property and replace them with high-density towers, chances are placards and protests go up.

Those being displaced generally add to the growing affordability housing crisis that is plaguing the Lower Mainland.

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But this is not the case at one project in Burnaby’s Metrotown area, often the epicentre of our affordable housing debates.

Here, a unique solution has taken hold, leaving about 100 long-time residents facing eviction, the developer, B.C. Housing and the City of Burnaby all happy.

On Dec. 12, all of them are lining up to give the project the green light and hail it as a solution to the near-zero rental vacancy rates across B.C.

The project is also being touted as a benchmark for Burnaby’s Metrotown development plan which, when done, will see low-rise walk-ups being replaced by high-rise towers, displacing some 6,000 people in the area.