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Vancouver Heritage Foundation Weekly: Learn About Vancouver's SRO Housing Renewal Initiative

Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage buildings and structures in recognition of their contribution to the city’s economy, sustainability and culture.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage buildings and structures in recognition of their contribution to the city’s economy, sustainability and culture.

Vancouver’s Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing has been undergoing a renewal to improve living conditions in heritage buildings for Vancouver’s low income residents. The SRO Housing Renewal Initiative Project involves the upgrading or renovating of SRO buildings and creating 15-year maintenance plans for each one. As part of the project, 13 buildings are receiving significant heritage rehabilitation and restoration to exterior facades and some have had significant interior elements restored. Our last Brown Bag Lunch and Learn talk of the year focuses on the progress of the project, the challenges faced and how heritage was considered throughout. Join Architect Mitch Sakumoto from Merrick Architecture who has been managing the consultant design team for BC Housing/Partnerships BC project.

Mitch will offer an update on the status of the projects and speak about some of the 7 completed sites such as the Marble Arch Hotel, Gastown Hotel, Washington Hotel, Cordova Residences and the Rice Block. 484 of the 850 units are finished and the residents have moved back in. Join us in learning about the complex process of upgrading and restoring homes for Vancouver’s low income and vulnerable residents, including some of the challenges that occurred while undertaking extensive renovation projects.

Learn about the state of heritage in Vancouver today with experts in architecture and design, city planning and other related fields at VHF’s Brown Bag Lunch and Learn. Speakers offer in depth illustrated talks followed by a Q&A. Bring your lunch and your questions to BCIT Downtown and learn about the issues, projects and topics that are relevant to the future of Vancouver’s historic neighbourhoods and buildings. Our last session for the year is Wednesday, November 25th at 12pm with updates on Vancouver’s SRO Housing Renewal Initiative.

Wednesday, November 25th

12pm – 1:30pm

Register $15 (inc. tax)

Downtown BCIT Campus, 555 Seymour Street. See lobby for room number. 1.5 Core LU’s AIBC.

Check out this blog post by Lani Russwurm on Vancouver Was Awesome, about some of these hotels’ history.