Summary:
- Burnaby City Council rejected Forum Asset Management’s proposal for a 1,405-unit privately owned purpose-built student housing complex near SFU Burnaby campus, citing environmental concerns related to the adjacent Burnaby Mountain forest and the fragile Stoney Creek ecosystem.
- The proposed development included 950 student housing units and 450 secured rental units, with buildings up to 16 storeys, located within the provincially designated Transit Oriented Area near Burquitlam SkyTrain Station, aiming to address demand for latter-stage post-secondary student accommodation.
- City staff supported further collaboration with the developer to refine the project, highlighting the need for additional student housing and its potential impact on housing affordability, but councillors raised issues about micro-unit livability, market-rate rents, and risks from natural hazards such as wildfires and flooding.
Original article:
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/9809-9998-rathburn-drive-burnaby-sfu-forum-student-housing
