North Shore Neighbourhood House Site Redevelopment

The Hub: North Shore Neighbourhood House Redevelopment is a community-based multi-phase redevelopment project in the heart of the City of North Vancouver. rendering of NSNH project

The project will provide affordable housing and community-based services, all within walking distance of local businesses, parks, and recreation centres such as The Shipyards and John Braithwaite Community Centre, as well as popular public transportation options.

The Hub will feature a state-of-the-art North Shore Neighbourhood House (NSNH) facility, offering a wide range of community services such as childcare, youth and seniors’ programs, wellness and recreation activities, and food security programs. In addition, The Hub will provide community amenities such as adult day and overnight respite care program, affordable rental housing, and a redesigned Derek Inman Park.

Over the next decade, the redevelopment project will change the look of the City-owned land at St Georges Avenue (between East 1st and 2nd Streets).

Project Phases

The project will be built in three phases, to ensure the continued operation of the North Shore Neighbourhood House throughout construction.

rendering of NSNH project with phases numbered Phase 1 of the project, in partnership with Catalyst Community Development and Care BC, will feature a six-storey building with an 18-bed and 25-bed respite centre on the first floor, and 89 affordable rental units on the five upper storeys. Included in Phase 1 was locating a new home for the existing community garden; a site close by at Alder Street is currently being designed and will be run by the North Shore Community Garden Society.

Phase 2 will include a new North Shore Neighbourhood House, providing essential community services such as childcare, youth and seniors programming, a food security program, recreational and wellness programs. The City is also working with Hollyburn Family Services Society, a community service provider, as the Phase 2 non-market housing operator to support marginalized groups with sustainable and affordable housing.

Phase 3 of the project will be a new park space, the goal of which is no net loss of dedicated park space to this community.

Project Timeline

Preliminary Engagement – Spring 2021

Introduced development concept to the community and gathered feedback to refine design.

Council Consideration – Fall 2021

City staff presented Official Community Plan amendment, rezoning, and park boundary adjustment for Council consideration.
Public Hearing was held.

Phase 0 (early works) – April-August 2022

To prepare the site, the City will be doing some utility reworks as well as creating a new outdoor childcare space for North Shore Neighbourhood House.

Phase 1 (Northwest building) – 2023

Construction is anticipated to begin late summer 2023.

Phase 2 (Southwest building) – TBD

Initiate detailed design of the southwest building and prepare for construction.

Phase 3 (Derek Inman Park) – TBD

Launch public engagement on the programming and design of the new Derek Inman Park.

Alder Street Community Garden

Adding to the thriving movement of community gardening, urban food production, and food security on the North Shore is the Alder Street Community Garden project, set to be delivered in summer 2023. This new garden, located on the south side of Alder Street along the Spirit Trail, will provide access to fresh produce and plants while fostering a sense of community and an environmental connection. The garden will join the network of community gardens throughout the City.

The Alder Street Community Garden is being co-designed with the North Shore Community Garden Society, and will be run by the Society once it's built. Priority for plots will be given to existing gardeners from the Lower Lonsdale Community Garden. Note that the Charros Community Garden will remain open during Phase 1 of The Hub project.

What's Happening Now

In order to prepare the site, the City will be transplanting three existing trees from this location to a new location within our City. Five new trees will be planted as part of this new project.

Details of the new garden are shown in the image below.

Alder Street Garden site map

Community Engagement Process

As part of re-imagining this site, our team held a redevelopment Virtual Information Session on May 13th, 2021. The online session was joined by 98 community members who wanted to learn more about “The HUB” project and ask questions.

The City also created a Let’s Talk community engagement project page, which had over 1,500 people visit to learn more about the project and add their comments.

During the engagements, three main themes emerged:

Make a positive contribution to the neighbourhood

Safe and accessible connections to the surrounding neighbourhood

Create a distinct identity for the emerging community hub

Fosters community connections
Unique identify for the North Shore Neighbourhood House

Create an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable design

Rental housing that meets a range of affordability needs

Council Approval

On February 14, 2022 City Council formally adopted a Zoning Bylaw amendment, an Official Community Plan amendment, and a park boundary adjustment that will permit a renewed vision for that location.

Watch the video of the February 14 Council Meeting.

Contact Us

Questions? Contact us at nsnhDevelopment@cnv.org.