Bethune housing co-op faces brighter future
The situation at the leaking Norman Bethune Housing Cooperative in North Burnaby is looking brighter after city council agreed to consider a rezoning application to allow the housing project to be rebuilt. The co-op, at 8750 Centaurus Circle, was built in 1977 and has 24 units of subsidized housing for low and moderate income families. It has been unable to securing financing for major repairs to the building, which suffers from leaks, mould, mildew and rot. Last month, co-op representatives asked council to consider rezoning the property to a higher density which would allow the co-op to sell it to a developer who would then build strata units in addition to replacement co-op units. Such a deal would allow the co-op to pay off its mortgage, and have new affordable housing units to show for it.