As the NDP head into a fall election, it is wielding cash and clout to get transit oriented developments done at transit sites although new homes are still years away.
The NDP government has changed the Transportation Act to allow government to buy sites near key transit points, with the most recent government acquisition being the ICBC North Vancouver headquarters.
Other purchases have occurred in Port Moody in late 2023 and Saanich in early 2024. The purchases have been made through a $394-million property acquisition fund operated by the transportation ministry alongside a mandate to deliver 10,000 new homes over the next 10 to 15 years.
At the same time, the NDP government has brought in Bill 47 which calls for Metro Vancouver municipalities to increase their zoning for transit oriented development (TOD) sites.
The moves align with the July announcement that the federal government launch a new $30 billion investment over the next 10 years to expand public transit.
While the ICBC North Vancouver headquarters conversion promises several hundred new housing units, the reality is only a vision. ICBC communications co-ordinator Lindsay Wilkins said via email that “employees are still working at head office in North Vancouver.”
Media contact Murray Sinclair for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure released the following statement: “ICBC is expected to remain in its North Vancouver office for two to three years while its new location is prepared for occupancy and is expected to fully relocate its operations to the new site by mid-2027.”
The statement added: “As it is very early in the process, the timeline for the conversion to housing is still being finalized.”
ICBC’s hybrid work model resulted in the 27,870-square-metre headquarters operating at less than half capacity on most days. As a result, ICBC has secured a 15-year lease to move its headquarters to 2150 Keith Dr., adjacent to the VCC Clark SkyTrain station.
The ministry statement said the headquarters redevelopment is estimated to create below market housing near amenities and transit.
The new development will sit next to Lonsdale Quay Market and will be made possible through an agreement between the BC Transportation Financing Authority, ICBC and the Musqueam Nation, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
Earlier this year, the province bought two Saanich properties adjacent to the Galloping Goose regional trail: one at 3657 Harriet Rd. currently occupied by Budget Rent-a-Car, and another at 28 Crease Ave., previously occupied by Ryzuk Geotechnical. The Harriet Road purchase price was $7.5 million while the Crease Avenue property cost just over $1.8 million.
While plans for the site are still in early development, the proposal will be in alignment with Saanich’s Uptown-Douglas Plan, which was passed by council February 2022 and has a 20 to 30 year development view of the area.
In April, Saanich council assigned staff the task of pre-zoning areas affected by the plan so that developers can shortcut the process of getting larger projects out of the ground faster by 18 months and buildings of up to 24 storeys could be constructed.
The province announced it would retain ownership of the two parcels of land while housing developments would be done as leaseholds or rentals. At that time, Premier David Eby said the province was purchasing sites around transit areas because once the transit sites were identified, property prices rose making home ownership expensive in these areas.
In late 2023, the province acquired its first transit housing site under the amended Transportation Act in Port Moody’s downtown, next to the Moody Centre SkyTrain station. The small parcel of land is next to existing provincial holdings. As part of the master-development plan for the area around the Moody Centre SkyTrain station, the province is proposing a two-acre parcel of government-owned property be redeveloped to provide hundreds of rental units.
The government is now working to complete further engagement with the community and local First Nations, and continuing with site studies and design at Moody Centre. Detailed design work is expected to take at least one year.
Mary De Paoli, acting general manager of Port Moody’s community development, said: “We are aware that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has plans to develop their property at 2906-2936 Spring Street, though an application has not yet been submitted to the city for review”
At other transit sites, the province is using its clout. Under Bill 47, which passed last fall, Metro Vancouver municipalities were required to pass bylaws to allow TODs with structures up to eight to 20 storeys near SkyTrain stations and eight to 12 storeys near bus exchanges.
Several municipalities have failed to meet the provincial deadline for the TOD density zoning which was the end of June.
The NDP have now issued ultimatums advising they would step in if Burnaby and the Township of Langley failed to comply by the end of October. The municipalities are resisting, claiming it would erode green space and such zoning would ramp up property prices in these areas.
However, before the NDP is able to step in, it will first have to win a provincial election slated for Oct. 19.
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