‘We desperately need this’: Council applauds 3- and 4-bedroom housing project near UBCO

A new student housing project near UBCO has been given the green light by city council.

City councillors applauded the proposal for a new 21-unit building at 975 Academy Way.

“It’s located in a perfect spot for UBC students,” said coun. Singh.

“There’s a little grocery store right in front, a pub down the way, student housing around and a walk to the university. Very convenient location and appropriate project.”

The project will see a four-storey building constructed.

It will have 18 three-bedroom apartments and three four-bedroom apartments.

There will also be 287m2, or 3,089 sq. ft. of commercial space, which would be divided into three new retail units.

Coun. Dehart applauded the developer’s design of the building and the high bedroom count.

“It’s a very nice looking building,” she said. “I guess we realize why we have 18 three-bedroom and three four-bedrooms, but we don’t see that very often, even in that area.”

She also said the commercial uses will greatly benefit the neighbourhood.

A total of 29 parking spaces, including two MODO car-share spaces, and 22 long-term bike stalls would also be built.

Amenity space would be provided on a rooftop patio and landscaping would see 11 new trees planted throughout the site.

Coun. Lovegrove also complimented the amount of bedrooms being offered in the units.

“We desperately need this,” he said. “Those three and four bedrooms could be used by graduate students who bring their families and perhaps faculty. So I really applaud the developer for proposing this.”

Now that the project has received council’s support, the developer can apply for and receive their building permit, which will mark the start of construction.