Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Skeena Terrace located?
Skeena Terrace is located at 2298 Cassiar Street on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sə̓lílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The site is located in the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood and is bound by East Fifth Avenue (North), Lougheed Highway (South), Cassiar Street (West), and Skeena Street (East).
Are there tenants currently living on site?
Yes, currently there are approximately 600 tenants residing on the site in 232 units.
If you are a tenant living at Skeena Terrace and want to find out more information on how this Planning Program will impact you, please contact BC Housing at communityrelations@bchousing.org
More information is available on BC Housing website here: https://www.bchousing.org/projectspartners/development-projects/vancouver-skeena-terrace
What is the purpose of the Skeena Terrace Planning Program?
The Skeena Terrace Planning Program is a comprehensive process that will guide the future development of the site through the development of Guiding Principles and site design concepts .Tenant and public engagement will be a feature of the program throughout the process. Overall, it is intended that the Planning Program will create a vision for the site that results in an affordable, sustainable and vibrant community.
What are Guiding Principles?
Guiding Principles provide high-level values and objectives in how a site develops in the future and informs the later site design phase. For the Skeena Terrace Planning Program these draft Guiding Principles will be based on community feedback, City of Vancouver and BC Housing objectives and policies and the aspirations of current and future tenants.
What is a Policy Statement
A Policy Statement is a guiding document that establishes Guiding Principles, objectives and policies relating to a range of topics. These may include: reconciliation, land use, density, building types and heights, mobility, sustainability and infrastructure, ecology, parks and open space, community amenities, and development phasing.
The Skeena Terrace Policy Statement will be created in consultation with BC Housing, the current tenants on site, the community, and other key stakeholders before being presented to Council for consideration at the end of the process. If adopted, the policy statement will inform any future rezoning and redevelopment of Skeena Terrace. While broad directions are confirmed in a policy statement, further refinement of the proposal will occur during the rezoning phase.
Who owns Skeena Terrace?
Skeena Terrace is owned and operated by BC Housing. It was originally developed in the 1960s by the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Province and the City of Vancouver.
Who is BC Housing?
BC Housing works in partnership with the private and non-profit sectors, provincial health authorities and ministries, other levels of government and community groups to develop a range of housing options.
To learn more about BC Housing, please visit: https://www.bchousing.org/home
What is the role of BC Housing in the Skeena Terrace Planning Program?
BC Housing is the owner and operator of Skeena Terrace. For the Skeena Terrace Planning Program, BC Housing is also the applicant. BC Housing will be responsible for overseeing the ongoing tenant engagement, along with completing any additional engagement activities and submitting documents that may be required during the redevelopment of the site.
If you are a tenant living at Skeena Terrace and want to find out more information on how this Planning Program will impact you, please contact BC Housing at communityrelations@bchousing.org
More information is available on BC Housing website here: https://www.bchousing.org/projectspartners/development-projects/vancouver-skeena-terrace
What is the role of the City of Vancouver in the Skeena Terrace Planning Program?
The City’s role in the Skeena Terrace Planning Program is to act as the governing agency during the redevelopment of this site. During this process, the City will provide advice, support and resources to ensure the redevelopment at 2298 Cassiar Street is consistent with City policies, standards and best planning practices. During the Planning Program, the City's Planning staff will be providing public engagement opportunities via Shape Your City here.
Planning staff will also be responsible for presenting the results of the Planning Program (e.g. Guiding Principles and site design concepts work) via a Policy Statement for the considerations of Council.
Will there be future opportunities for public engagement?
Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic the City has put in-person engagement on hold for now.
This Shape Your City page will be continually evolving to provide project updates and gather your input at different stages of the Planning Program as we develop a vision for Skeena Terrace.
The next opportunity for you to provide feedback will be reviewing and providing feedback on the design concept that will inform the Policy Statement for Skeena Terrace. Please stay tuned for more.