Burnaby 'demo-viction' rezoning projects advance to 2nd hearing

Three of four controversial housing projects that need rezoning to be built have passed to a second reading, following a public hearing that was temporarily shut down by protesters.

Burnabycity council met on Tuesday night to hear from speakers onfour housing projectsin the Metrotown and Brentwood areas, three of which will be built into condo towers up to 41 storeys. A proposed development onGilmore Avenue was tabled.

• View a map of where the projects are located.

"We're not satisfied with the staff's new policy report on development and housing plans for the city," said Ivan Drury, a member of a coalition of three organizations opposed to the rezoning.

"It didn't consult anyone who'sgoing to be affected by the evictions and demolitions thatcome out of these rezoning applications."

Drury said 20 protesters marched intocouncil chambers as the meeting started, chanting loudly for about 20 minutes. He said BurnabyMayor Derek Corrigan and city councillorsleft the room, but then returned.

When council came back, they heard from about a dozen speakers opposed to the rezoning, said Drury.

Low-income residents opposed

The protest was the latest in a series ofrallies in an attempt to protect low-income housing from redevelopment.

"Their project is to tear down these old apartments and build for those massive condos. And those condos, the average price is over $400,000," saidSherry Chen, a resident of one of the buildings slated to be torn down.

Chen andher partnerpay$780 a month to rent their one-bedroom unit, where they've lived with their two childrenfor the past five years.

Advocacy groups say Chen's is one of many families being displaced by development inBurnaby.

"We'd like them to consider a moratorium. Or [they can]say no, this is the current zoning and we're not going to rezone it," said Rick McGowanwith theMetrotownResidents Association.

City wants to increase density

In 2010, the City voted to dramatically increase density, especially in areas nearSkyTrainstations or other transit hubs.Burnabyofficials say the city needs 2,000 new units a year for the next 25 years to accommodate growth.

"Over the last 20 years we'vebeen trying to create units," saidCoun. SavDhaliwal. "We're making a couple of properties available forpeople to create co-op housing."

According to a report released last spring,23 apartment buildings were sold intheMetrotownneighbourhood in the previous year14 of them were slated to become market housing.

The second of four hearings on the three projectswill take place on Dec. 7.