Councillor Lisa Muri is urging the District of North Vancouver to adopt new policies that promote relocating or deconstructing older homes instead of demolishing them. Her proposal, which will be discussed at the council today, aims to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions while preserving homes that could be repurposed.
“As housing demands continue to increase, many older single-family homes in good condition are demolished to allow for construction of multi-family or higher density dwellings,” Muri says. “The District of North Vancouver (DNV) can offset future demolitions and tap into the opportunity of potentially having these homes relocated and repurposed to other sites in need of homes, preventing Greenhouse Gas Emission (GHG) waste and significantly reducing material waste into Metro Vancouver landfills.”
Muri’s recommendations are based on the “Home Waste Prevention Strategy: Municipal Action Plan” by Renewal Development, which outlines steps for municipalities to support sustainable development and reduce the environmental impact of home removals.
Key Recommendations
With housing demand rising, many older, good-quality single-family homes are being demolished for higher-density projects. Muri says that relocating or deconstructing these homes could significantly cut waste.
- Pre-Demolition Assessment: A required assessment for homes slated for removal, evaluating the potential for relocation or deconstruction, to be included in permit applications.
- Early Green Removal Permits: Permits allowing relocation or deconstruction before building permits are issued.
- Refundable Demolition Deposit: A $19,500 deposit for pre-1970 homes, refundable if the home is relocated or deconstructed.
- Density Bonus for Sustainable Removal: Developers committing to relocate or deconstruct homes would be eligible for a density bonus.
- Updated Standards for Municipal Buildings: Prioritize relocation over demolition for district-owned buildings.
- Fast-Track Permitting: Speed up approvals for projects that commit to sustainable removal practices.
Muri believes these changes could position North Vancouver as a leader in sustainable building practices. “We have an opportunity to rethink how we handle home removals,” she said. “Relocating or deconstructing homes instead of demolishing them reduces waste and helps address housing challenges.”
The council will review the proposal at the meeting today, September 9.
This is just DUMB!
Government costs are killing new home buyers as costs run 20% or more of the actual purchase price. This idea will only INCREASE COSTS even more! This is a horrible idea that entail more regulations and bureaucracy.
It’s going to cost Metro Vancouver tax payers $120 MILLION to close the Vancouver landfill. We need responsible alternatives to demolition!
Kudos to Councilor Muri for taking a hard look at this big problem!
In support of this proposal! When there’s a better option available than simply demolishing salvageable homes and sending tons of (often re-usable) materials to the landfill, AND there are financial and timeline benefits to doing so, it just makes sense.