November 18 Council Notes: Housing Projects

Last night, Langley City Council looked at three new proposed housing projects.

The first proposed housing project was for a 6-storey, 80-unit apartment building at 20130-20150 53 Avenue & 20139-20153 52 Avenue (near Nicomekl Elementary School). If approved by Council, the apartment would have 45 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units, and five three-bedroom units.

Rendering of proposed project at 20130-20150 53 Avenue & 20139-20153 52 Avenue

Council gave first and second reading to the rezoning bylaw for this proposed apartment project.

In June 2023, Langley City Council gave third reading for a proposed 12-storey apartment building at 5360 204 Street on the site of the current Pyramid Apartments. The applicant withdrew the 12-storey apartment building proposal and is now proposing a 6-storey, 283-unit apartment building.

Rendering of proposed project at 5360 204 Street

There are two important things to note. First, because this would redevelop a current purpose-built market rental building, all market rental units must be replaced one-for-one in the new apartment building per Council policy. Second, the building is subject to a Council tenant relocation, compensation, and right-to-return policy. In 2023, Council negotiated additional tenant compensation for this project above the then-current policy and the right for tenants to return at 20% below market rent. So far, about 2/3rds of the current tenants who fall under the tenant relocation, compensation, and right-to-return policy have moved from the building and been compensated. Twelve tenants are remaining. Council updated our tenant relocation, compensation, and right-to-return policy, beefing up some aspects of the policy, including compensation, this summer. You can read more about this in a previous post. Council had a good conversation last night on whether the new beefed-up policy should apply and, if so, how it would impact tenants who have already been relocated and compensated under the old negotiated policy. In a 4-3 vote, Council gave first and second reading to this scaled-down version under the old negotiated policy.

Finally, Council issued a development permit for a 6-storey, 178-unit apartment development at 20644 Eastleigh Crescent.

Rendering of proposed project at 20644 Eastleigh Crescent.

For more information on these projects, please visit Langley City's Development Application Portal. The portal has detailed plans and other supporting documentation, including reports from the City's Advisory Design Panel, plus the status of all applications as they work through the approval process.