Over the course of the second quarter of 2025 — the months of April, May, and June — Vancouver City Council approved a combined total of 3,714 new homes across 18 high-rise towers, marking a step forward in the city’s efforts to address its housing affordability and supply crisis over the long term.
Altogether, the rezoning applications were approved in public hearings held throughout this period, including a mix of 3,089 market rental units and 591 below-market rental units offered at more affordable rates.
In addition, two projects with strata market ownership condominium homes were also approved, contributing another 234 condominium units.
All of these projects are transit-oriented developments within walking distance of existing or future SkyTrain stations, and the vast majority of the projects were located within the City’s Broadway Plan area. Many of these projects incorporated mixed uses, including varying degrees of retail/restaurant uses in the lower levels, and three childcare facilities with a combined capacity for up to 123 kids.
Two of these approved rezoning applications were multi-tower projects, including the highly contested redevelopment of the Safeway grocery store next to SkyTrain’s Commercial-Broadway Station, which will generate 1,044 secured purpose-built market rental homes.
The net gain in housing from all of these rezonings amounts to 3,698 new homes, accounting for the replacement of demolished homes.
In the case of the redevelopments of the Safeway at Commercial-Broadway Station and La Maison de la Francophonie, there is no loss of housing as these sites do not have any existing residential uses. If both of these projects are taken out of the equation, the net gain in residential uses drops to 2,529 units.
The developments span a range of heights and densities, with towers ranging from 17 to 44 storeys. Collectively, the 18 towers add up to a total of 464 floors, averaging about 26 storeys per tower. The median is 21 storeys.
While these rezonings have now been approved, each project must still undergo the development permit and building permit application processes. Approval is just one step — actual construction is another; whether these projects move forward remains uncertain, given escalating construction costs, high interest rates driving up financing expenses, and softened market demand. Even if a project proceeds to construction, its completion — and any meaningful impact on housing supply and affordability — remains years away.
Kenneth Chan| Jun 26 2025,
source: dailyhive.com
link: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-new-housing-tower-approvals-q2-2025
