Project Context
Located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, The Salvation Army’s Vancouver Harbour Light facility has served the community for over 65-years. With continued community need for social services and supports, The Salvation Army determined a new purpose-built facility was needed to continue to serve residents.
CitySpaces' Role
CitySpaces is acting as the Project Manager and Owner’s Representative on behalf of The Salvation Army for the project, which involves transitioning services and programming into a new mixed-use building with over 300-units across the street from The Salvation Army’s East Cordova Street location, where it has operated for over 65-years. Our team supported site selection and developed a project governance model to undertake this significant project. With a capital budget of over $163-million, CitySpaces helped secure funding from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, BC Housing (through the Supportive Housing Fund), Corrections Canada, and City of Vancouver, along with supporting The Salvation Army in its capital campaign, to make the project possible.
CitySpaces was also instrumental in obtaining municipal approvals, including a two-storey height variance from the City’s planning department to allow for the services needed to support this critical piece of social infrastructure.
Design & Development Highlights
The building is a true multi-purpose facility with a full continuum of care for residents. It includes 134 emergency shelter beds, 70 addiction treatment beds, 50 beds in a Corrections Canada community residential facility, and 46 units of supportive housing. The facility also provides support services, vocational training, community meal programs (serving over 500,000 meals annually), and food procurement and distribution.
Additionally, The Salvation Army set a stretch goal for environmental sustainability, surpassing the minimum municipal requirements. The project aims to achieve more than a 50% improvement over the 2015 National Energy Building Code in both energy savings and GHG emission reductions.
Impact
The new Harbour Light facility will focus on delivering vital services, supports, and programs to vulnerable and marginalized individuals, including those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, as well as individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.
Purposefully designed to assist individuals on their path to healthier, more fulfilling lives, the Vancouver Harbour Light will offer a safe and welcoming environment for clients, staff, and the broader community. The facility will expand the range of community services available, enhancing support for the Downtown Eastside community.
Areas of Expertise
Facilitation + Engagement
Visioning & Project Concept
Partnership Generation
Feasibility & Business Cases
Owner’s Representative & Project Management
Construction Administration
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