The City of Vancouver is now accepting public feedback on the development permit application filed by Intracorp for the Amica Senior Living luxury care residence until the end of day on Friday, August 16, 2024. 
 
The project was approved by Council on April 9, 2024 and this public comment period is an opportunity to provide feedback on reducing the shadow and retaining trees. Construction safety should also be mentioned given the traumatic fire on Aug 6 of a six-story rental building under construction on the property along 41st and Collingwood which is next to the Amica lot.
 
 Please use the following link to add your comments:

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/3329-3429-w-41-ave-and-5649-5683-blenheim-st-2

Items for the review committee to address include:
 

1. Lower the height: Although the development is 6 storeys high, at 89.8 ft. high, it is actually the approximate size of a 9-storey building. Lower the height to 72 ft. to conform with Vancouver’s Streamlined Rental Policy. 72 ft is also the the planned height of the rental building under construction that recently burned down on Aug 6. on W.41 Ave. The developer’s claim that additional height is required for HVAC equipment is simply false.  Institutional residential care buildings designed and built today are typically 74 feet tall for a 6-storey building.  The extra height variance on this Amica building is for luxury, not for HVAC. Please ask the proponent to publish a letter by their mechanical HVAC engineer to clearly state why an additional 26 feet is needed for the proper functioning of HVAC.
2. Follow guidance in the Council Referral Report to allow sunlight to shine through: The council referral report appendix B page1states that additional measures to reduce the massing and height of the building must be explored. This includes pushing the building deeper into the ground. Please ensure this is done. We also recommend more terracing at the back down to 3 levels vs. 4 levels. We also ask that the interior ceiling height of the buildings be reduced by 1 foot on each floor. The lower building height will dramatically reduce shadowing.  
3. Retain all the trees on neighbouring properties: The development requires that the mature trees on the neighbours’ properties must be cut down so Amica can build a lane. The trees must be retained - this is non-negotiable.  The City must find ways to accomplish this including pushing the lane farther away from the houses to the north. The trees are important for privacy, noise buffer, views and fire protection as the large, healthy trees, particularly those with leaves are resistant to fire.
4. Ensure the safety of the local community during the construction phase: Recently several homes in the neighbourhood burnt down and more were damaged as a result of the Aug 6 fire of the rental building under construction on W.41 Ave. including the collapse of a crane which landed on a neighbouring home. Although concrete construction, the Amica building still presents a significant safety risk to the community during the construction phase due to the materials on site and the amount of wood used for formworks and for the interior.  Having such a tall structure so close to residential homes presents a fire risk which can be reduced by lowering the height. Lowering the height could also reduce the need for large cranes to manage the enormous height of the building. This type of construction is incompatible with the residential homes located several feet away.
5. Ensure affordability: Local seniors should not have to move out of the community for more affordable options. This project is another example of accommodations made for a developer through rezoning but not resulting in affordable housing. Rents in this private luxury facility are anticipated to range between $91,000 - $180,000 per year.