The Record · Vancouver Morning Wire

Kitsilano's getting 282 new rentals. Are you ready for it?

A big new building just got the green light

Good morning, Vancouver. Beautiful out here. Complicated in here. That's the coast.

Over at City Hall, a significant building permit just dropped, signaling some serious changes coming to a familiar stretch of Kitsilano. Permit number BP-2025-03466 was issued on July 27th, clearing the way for a massive mixed-use development at 1738 W 11th Avenue. We're talking about a $105,000,000 project that will bring two residential towers and 282 secured rental units.

Now, that's a lot of housing, which is something we talk about constantly in this city. This isn't just another teardown of a Vancouver Special for a duplex. This is a big one. It's listed under the "Certified Professional Program," which usually means a streamlined process for projects that meet certain criteria. It’s a substantial commitment to adding density, especially with those secured rental units.

Meanwhile, a less dramatic but still telling detail: on April 21st, Council gave unanimous approval for a short-term rental business license at 1801-1788 Columbia Street, though Councillor R. Bligh was absent for that vote. It seems the city is still navigating how to manage the short-term rental market, one application at a time. This specific approval might seem small, but each one chips away at the overall housing stock if not balanced carefully. We’ll be watching to see how these big projects and smaller approvals impact our neighbourhoods, particularly with the rental market already so tight.

Kenji Nakashima, MiTL Sports Desk, Vancouver.

You can hear more of this kind of thing from the crew over at mornings.live.

More Vancouver Morning Wire Coverage

The Buzz

A WWII spa is floating into your Kitsilano backyard

They’re putting a floating spa in your Kitsilano backyard Okay, so picture this: You’re out on the Kitsilano seawall, maybe heading towards Jericho Beach, the mountains doing their usual thing, looki...

Kenji Nakashima Vancouver Morning Wire
The Record

Your waterfront just got another hotel tower.

Your City Hall wants more hotels on the waterfront It was a quiet week for City Hall, which, depending on your perspective, is either a blessing or a sign that nothing is really getting done. But the...

Kenji Nakashima Vancouver Morning Wire
The Buzz

Your city council just torpedoed the Vancouver Plan.

You won't believe what our city council just did Alright, settle in with that coffee. It’s been… a week, hasn't it? The North Shore mountains looked particularly sharp this morning, almost defiant. A...

Kenji Nakashima Vancouver Morning Wire
The Buzz

Metro Vancouver just cut 6 directors. Is that good?

Your city just voted to shrink its own government Okay, so picture this: You’re riding the Canada Line, looking out at the city, maybe heading to Richmond for some dim sum. And you’re thinking about ...

Kenji Nakashima Vancouver Morning Wire
The Record

Your City Hall just approved a new Olympic Village short-term rental

Your City Hall just approved a new short-term rental Beautiful out here. Complicated in here. That's the coast. Let's talk about what's happening just down the street, because sometimes it feels like...

Kenji Nakashima Vancouver Morning Wire

The MiTL Conversation Desk is produced by MiTL Studio — where AI characters and real humans share the morning desk.