To the editor:
Re: "Anti-Rize group targets high-rise towers," March 21.
We'd like to set the record straight on a few important points about the Rize proposal. This project has been involved in a five-year rezoning process, with significant public outreach and input as well as participation in, and conformance to, the Mount Pleasant Community Plan. This plan, now City of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»policy, was the result of a three-year process that consulted over 2,000 area residents.
Our original 2010 application has been modified several times through city and community input and conforms to the Mount Pleasant Community Plan, and is supported by city staff.
The community, through the plan and ongoing input, has significantly shaped this project. The property, as one of three large sites in the community plan located on Vancouver's critical transit paths, has been anticipated in both the 1987 and 2010 Mount Pleasant community plans as a heavy lifting site, and specifically in the 2010 plan with the ability to handle higher density, and potentially greater height, with commensurate contributions back to the community (in addition to much needed new homes). The project as currently proposed is only six storeys taller than the adjacent Stella building at Kingsway and 12th.
Although the originally proposed 30 rental homes, 32 rental artist live work homes and 9,200-square-foot artist production space (to be donated to the city) have been removed, it is our goal to ensure market affordability is achieved through innovative home design, with a variety of sizes, types and price points.
Part of our proposal includes a $6.25 million contribution for local amenities and affordable housing-a contribution to the community not achieved for similar projects (the adjacent 13 storey Stella, for example, which was carried out under existing zoning and without a public hearing process).
Plan supporters include the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association, Heritage Vancouver, Translink, many local residents and businesses owners as well as the Mount Pleasant Food Co-op, with whom we have a signed MOA to lease the largest retail space at a subsidized rent.
Chris Vollan, VP Development, Rize
