The lot at 3802 Hastings St. in Burnaby has sat vacant for about four decades, according to Mayor Derek Corrigan, but it could see new life - if the federal and provincial governments agree.
The three levels of government jointly own the property - the federal government owns 50 per cent, and the province and city each own 25 per cent.
Burnaby would like the lot to be developed for affordable rental housing, according to Corrigan.
The City of Burnaby is moving forward with a request for proposals for a development concept for the parcel of land, but any actual development will have to be done in conjunction with the other levels of government, according to Corrigan.
"We want to ensure that something happens at that site," he said in a phone interview Tuesday. "And we're looking to have some way to have the federal and provincial governments cooperate."
The federal and provincial governments have rejected requests from the city for cost-sharing funding for the development concept stage of the project, Corrigan said, but the city hopes moving forward with a request for proposals will attract their interest.
The city submitted a request for cost sharing to Diane Finley, the federal minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Rich Coleman, the provincial minister for housing, at the end of July but did not receive a response, according to a report from the director of planning and building, Basil Luksun.
The city owns a lot to the west of the property, which is not part of the project, but Corrigan said it could also be considered for development.
"It's always been anticipated that we could look at a project with the federal and provincial government that would deliver some sort of affordable housing," he said, "and the property that we had would be made available for market housing, to try to ensure we have a mix of housing at that location."
The urban renewal site is in the C8a district and is meant to accommodate a four-storey mixed-use development.
The request for proposals covers the conceptual stage of the project, including the preparation of a preliminary development concept; a housing unit composition, including an assessment of different development concepts with a mix of non-market rental housing; forecast documents on the concept, options, costs and rental rates; capital and operating cost estimates for the project; and a search for federal and provincial programs that could help cover funding for the project.
The city's community benefit bonus housing fund would be a potential source of additional funding, according to the report, as the fund has provided support to three non-market housing projects, covering city-related costs such as application and permit fees.
Council had authorized $30,000 in funding for the development concept, so long as the requested cost sharing from the federal and provincial level of governments was approved. However, the city has decided to put the money towards the request for proposals in advance of any cost-sharing approval.
The city plans to continue trying to obtain the cost-sharing contributions from the other levels of government, the report stated.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation was not able to provide information on the possibility of moving forward with the project before press time but was looking into the issue.
A spokesperson for the B.C. minister responsible for housing said the province would contribute funding to the feasibility study and would work with city staff to assess the project.
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