Vancouver council approves 22-storey hotel replacing Mount Pleasant rental apartments
The rezoning decision will displace about 40 residents from the 1960s Myron Manor building. Tenants say relocation compensation won't cover Vancouver's rental costs.
Sources · local media reports
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vancouver city council voted Tuesday to rezone a Mount Pleasant apartment building for a 22-storey hotel, displacing approximately 40 long-term residents and sparking concerns about housing loss in an already tight rental market.
The vote was 6-4, with Mayor Ken Sim and most of his ABC party caucus supporting the rezoning application from Lotus Capital Corp. and Nicola Real Estate. The project would replace the 1960s-era Myron Manor at 75 East 8th Ave. with a 190-unit extended-stay hotel above two floors of industrial space.
City staff and the developer argue the project supports Vancouver's employment goals and addresses a shortage of hotel rooms — Destination Vancouver estimates the city will need about 10,000 additional hotel rooms by 2050. The hotel's location near the future Mount Pleasant SkyTrain station and proximity to the area's growing high-tech and biotech sectors factored into staff's support.
But residents and advocates say the decision prioritizes hotel development over housing stability. Will Barrocan, a 72-year-old Filipino retiree who has lived at Myron Manor for more than 24 years, said the displacement will devastate his life. He pays $1,050 a month for a one-bedroom apartment and lives close to his doctor and community supports. His wife works as a housekeeper at a downtown hotel.
"This will ruin our lives," Barrocan said. "My wife cannot afford to retire as we still need money to live out the end of our days."
Under the city's tenant relocation and protection policy, 27 of Myron Manor's 29 units are eligible for compensation based on tenancy length — roughly 12 months of rent per decade lived in the building, about $14,000 for Barrocan. He said that amount will be gone within two years at Vancouver market rates.
Because the project includes no replacement rental housing, tenants cannot return to the rebuilt site. Nicola Real Estate said it remains committed to the relocation policy and that residents are not expected to leave for at least two years. Myron Manor residents have hired a lawyer to seek a court review of the application process. The project is one of several proposed hotels in Mount Pleasant drawing scrutiny from the hospitality workers' union, which argues hotels should not receive preferential treatment while the city's housing crisis persists.
Will a court review overturn or modify the rezoning decision?
What support will the city provide to tenants who cannot find affordable housing in Metro Vancouver?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How many people will be displaced from Myron Manor?
Approximately 40 long-term residents will be displaced from the Myron Manor building at 75 East 8th Ave. in Vancouver.
What will replace Myron Manor?
A 22-storey extended-stay hotel with 190 units will replace the 1960s-era Myron Manor, along with two floors of industrial space below it.
How much relocation compensation is offered to long-term tenants?
Under Vancouver's tenant relocation and protection policy, eligible tenants receive roughly 12 months of rent per decade of tenancy. For example, a tenant like Will Barrocan, who lived at Myron Manor for more than 24 years, would receive about $14,000.
When do residents need to vacate?
Myron Manor residents are not expected to leave for at least two years, according to Nicola Real Estate, the developer.
