The future expansion of a Burnaby park can only happen with the demolition of 10 rental houses the city owns.
So says a city staff report set to be discussed at council on Monday.
The homes, all built around 1947 but not considered heritage properties, are on Gilmore Avenue and sit next to Willingdon Heights Park. They were purchased before 2010 with the idea that they could be removed so the park could be expanded. No timeline for the expansion of the park was included in the report.
“The Chief Licence Inspector has advised that the interim rental property at 1204 Gilmore Avenue, within Willingdon Heights Park, is presently vacant,” reads the report. “This vacancy provides an opportunity to advance the removal and/or demolition of the City-owned structures at 1204 Gilmore Avenue to further the intended transition of the lands acquired for park purposes to their intended park use.”
The other nine properties on Gilmore next to the park currently have tenants, said the report.
“Tenancy for interim city rental properties is on a month to month basis and all tenants are notified at the time of rental that the property may be required for park use at any time,” said the report. “As each of these properties become vacant, or are required for park development purposes, it will be necessary to give the tenants notice to vacate. Under the Residential Tenancy Act, a two-month notice period is required.”
Council is being asked to give pre-authorization for the demolition.
Two years ago, the Mayor's Task Force on Community Housing presented its final report. Number 13 on the list of recommendations is to "increase the supply of affordable rental housing."
