• Recognizes Best Practices in Affordable Housing

• Held every 2 years

• Mole Hill - one of 16 winners in 2006

Innovative Partnership Revitalizes Vancouver Heritage Community

• Community advocated for 7 years to save neighbourhood from demolition. Created partnership between provincial, municipal governments and a variety of private foundations and community groups

Their Goals

• Save and improve the existing affordable housing • Create additional affordable housing units Sean McEwen

S.R. McEwen Architects

Unique Neighbourhood

• Mole Hill is the only intact block of Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes in Vancouver

• Situated in the middle of one of the highest density neighbourhoods and hottest housing markets in North America

•The entire block had been under the threat of demolition for more than 50 years

Mole Hill Today

• Provides 178 units of subsidized and market rental housing for low- and moderate-income singles, families, seniors and long-time residents

• The restoration was completed in two phases, and the units were filled almost immediately

Sean McEwenS.R. McEwen Architects

Saving the Block

• Mole Hill Living Heritage Society established a citywide coalition of housing, heritage and various community groups

The Plan

• Transform 27 city-owned heritage homes and create a new building to provide affordable housing

• Preserve all the historic buildings on the site and the original community

Additional Benefits•The initiative includes one group day-care centre

•Two licensed family childcare businesses

• A community gardens and green walkways

• An apartment for recovering heart transplant patients

• And the Dr. Peter Centre for persons with HIV/AIDS

• Community gardens in partnership with the West End Residents Association and a variety of public green spaces

• Four (4) parking stalls for the Co-operative Auto Network, a car sharing organization

• Watson House is a partnership between the Coast Foundation and the Mole Hill Community Housing Society for transition and early intervention housing and programs for youth with mental illness

Before & After

• The interior and exterior heritage features of the houses were carefully preserved at each stage of the renovation

Meshing The Old with the New

• Each home incorporates advanced green building techniques and energy-efficient features, including geothermal heating system

• These techniques help save energy and enhance the long-term affordability

Before After

Proof that partnerships work

• The project was made possible through an intensive, multi-year effort by the community

• Funding and co-ordination from all levels of government

The end result

• A unique heritage community that offers affordable, energy-efficient and sustainable housing in the heart of Vancouver

Project Highlights

Number of units: 178 units (67 market units and 111 subsidized units) (60 studio, 78 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom)

Size of units: 162 to 1,467 square feet

Construction cost: $27 million (including fees)

Cost to rent: market units from $548 to $1,161 per month; subsidy units geared-to-income

Contributors City of Vancouver (land and donated houses for term of lease) Mole Hill Living Heritage Society (services) Mole Hill Community Housing Society (Project management and services) Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Foundation (funding) Vancouver Foundation (funding) Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation (services) Cooperators Community Economic Development Fund (funding) VanCity Community Fund (funding) Vancouver/Richmond Health Board (services) B.C. Housing (subsidies, construction financing and funding through the Canada-B.C. Affordable Housing Program Agreement))B.C. Ministry of Community Development, Cooperative and Volunteers (support)B.C. Ministry of Health (services)Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (funding through the Canada-B.C. Affordable Housing Program Agreement for the Watson House and the Dr. Peter Centre) Community Development Unit of the BC Ministry of Employment and Investment

Ms. Lynne YelichParliamentary Secretary to the

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Minister

Responsible for CMHC

Mr. Sean McEwen – ArchitectMr. Blair Petrie – Mole Hill Resident Mr. Norm Hotson – Architect