Project Background

“I have been bringing my baby to the Mount Pleasant Library since he was 6 weeks old. We can’t wait for the new civic centre to open at 1 Kingsway!”

The Vision

The concept for a combined facility reflects Vancouver's CityPlan vision for developing neighbourhood "centres" that bring together multiple civic services. The idea for a new community centre grew out of the Mount Pleasant Community Centre Development Plan that was completed in the late 1980s.

The genesis for the project, the City's 2000-2002 Capital Plan, was approved by Council in the fall of 1999. This included $4,750,000 for a new Mount Pleasant Community Centre with the underlying intention of developing a multi-service complex which might include, among other services, a new library for the neighborhood.

Meantime, Vancouver Public Library's Strategic Plan 2000 2003 had identified the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood as one of the areas for branch library redevelopment.

In September, 2001 Vancouver City Council approved the purchase of the property at 1 Kingsway for the relocation and redevelopment of the Mount Pleasant Community Centre. On June 25, 2002, an administrative report "Proposed Joint-Use Project: #1 Kingsway" outlining the scope of the project was approved by City Council. The report detailed the addition of a child care centre, rental housing, a new Mount Pleasant Branch Library, and underground parking. The concept of "one stop shopping" underlined the new development planned for 1 Kingsway.

In Vancouver's civic elections held in November, 2002, Vancouver citizens voted overwhelmingly in favour on the referendum item relating to funding for Parks and Recreation and civic facilities. The Mount Pleasant project was included within this block of funding.

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The Program

Although the need was understood, the details of what a new library and community centre would include needed to be developed. The Vancouver Public Library held an information meeting in March, 2002. The concept of the new, larger library was well received. Comments from the public included a desire to have increased computer access, a meeting room, display space for local artists, and more seating and tables.

The Park Board and the Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association surveyed the community over an 18 month period in 2001 and 2002. More than 300 people responded. The feedback was used to help determine the range of service needs for the new centre. Three public meetings were held; one in October, 2002, and two in January. One meeting was held on January 16, to discuss the relocation of current community centre services and a second meeting on January 22 to discuss what services and spaces would be included in the relocated community centre Two local artists were asked to develop some criteria for inclusion of art activities at the relocated centre. This process yielded the Building Program ( PDF, 198kb) which was approved by the Community Centre Association and the Park Board in May 2003.

When the development of this joint use facility was considered, the City of Vancouver Community Services Group commissioned a report on the needs and preferences for childcare in the Mt Pleasant Community. A strong need for additional child care spaces was found. Also, the issue of after-school care for the children currently attending a program in the existing Community Centre was identified. As funds are available for child care in this area from levies on land development, child care was added to the facility program. The issue of after-school care for the children attending Simon Fraser School is being reviewed outside of this project by the City's Child Development Coordinator.

The final addition to the program was the housing. After the land was purchased, the City engaged consultants to review the available options for the additional development potential on the site with a view of sharing the land cost over a larger group. Out of that study came the recommendation to develop rental housing units targeted at the current local rental market. The housing component will be developed and owned by the City of Vancouver and will be held as part of its long term investment portfolio in its Property Endowment Fund. At that time social housing was considered, but the lack of funding programs meant that there was no viable option to build any. Both social housing and market rental housing are needed in the city; the 1 Kingsway project will be filling part of the need for market rental housing.

Sustainable design is also a goal embraced by this project and it will guide the design and the selection of materials.

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The Design

This joint project of the City, Park Board and Library is now underway. In 2002 the old buildings on the purchased site were demolished. In March, 2003 the contract for consulting services for the project was awarded to the architectural firm of Busby and Associates Architects. Please follow the evolution of the project as we document it on the rest of this website.

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©2010, City of Vancouver
Last Modified: Friday, March 19, 2010