INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WOMEN

Client: Urban Land Institute BC | Soroptimist International of Vancouver | 2017

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Soroptimist International of Vancouver (SIV) was host to a ULI BC Technical Assistance Panel (TAP).SIV was founded over 90 years ago by a group of pioneering women who were driven to help other women. The group’s rich history and service to the community includes renting and operating rental housing for those with no to low income. The subject property for this TAP was a 21-unit building located on West 13th Avenue in Vancouver, BC. Built in 1960, the two-storey walk-up with basement is home to 21 seniors. SIV wished to explore the provision for maximizing the number of units for low-income women through the possible redevelopment of the site.

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ULI BC retained Uplift Co. to plan and execute the event as well as deliver a final report. Our work included meeting with SIV to understand their project challenge, developing a challenge statement, and five key questions, advising on the creation of a Project Briefing Book, and identification and invitation for stakeholder participation.

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We worked with the ULI BC TAP Committee to solicit professional volunteers for the event; in this case, seven professionals formed the panel bringing expertise in Architecture, urban planning, Real Estate Strategy & Development, and Non-profit Housing Development.

 

Our team coordinated the logistics of introductory presentations, a site tour, and a group dinner. Following this, we managed a one-day charette with the TAP volunteers, developed a presentation of their recommendations (on the fly), and completed the writing and production of the final report. The work of this TAP provided SIV with highly informative considerations and recommendations on how they could move forward with the potential redevelopment of their housing site.

 

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