187

187

Located in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, 187 E 3rd features 30 non-market housing units for low and modest income artists and their families. The building is owned by the City of Vancouver and operated by 221A Artist Housing Society in collaboration with the Community Land Trust.

Key Features

  • 30 units of housing between Levels 3 to 5:
    • 13 studios (one of which is accessible) 
    • 15 one-bedroom units (one of which is accessible) 
    • 2 two-bedroom units
  • Monthly rents range from $467 to $1,556, which include housing charges no more than 30% of monthly income (averaged over 3 years) plus proportional share of amenity usage costs
  • Amenities include rooftop outdoor space with children’s play area, and shared laundry facilities on each floor
  • Underground secured bicycle parking and limited vehicle parking (at an additional cost) 
  • Access to a shared arts production space 
  • Occupancy expected December 1, 2021

Eligibility for Housing

In order to be eligible for the artist housing, the primary applicant must:

  • Be an artist
  • Have a total household income at or below the BC Housing's Housing Income Limits (HILs)
    • In recognition that artists have fluctuating incomes, we look at the average household income over 3 years. 
  • Be 19 years or older
  • Be living in BC
  • Use the property as their primary residence 
  • Additional eligibility for accessible units
  • Must not be employees, board members, contractors of 221A and the Community Land Trust

221A AHS will prioritize applications from members of the following designated groups that have traditionally been disadvantaged from accessing resources within the cultural sector: Black and/or African-Canadian, Indigenous, and racialized people; people living with disabilities; people who are deaf or hard of hearing; Two-spirit, queer, trans, and non-binary people. Special consideration is also given to applicants with housing needs based on a combination of their income, current housing costs and housing conditions.

Applications

Applications are currently closed. Please sign up to our newsletter and select "Housing" to be notified when the waitlist opens.

The application may consist of:

  • Artist Housing Application Form
  • Proof of income/assets 
  • Proof of artistic practice (i.e. portfolio, CV, website, etc.)
  • References
  • An informal phone call, or in-person/virtual meeting to confirm the information submitted

Unit Information

The 30 units of artist housing at 187 E 3rd include:

  • 13 studios (one of which is accessible) 
  • 15 one-bedroom units (one of which is accessible) 
  • 2 two-bedroom units
  • Ranging from 325 - 623 sq ft
  • Storage space in each unit
  • Located on levels 3, 4 and 5
  • Featuring excellent light, balconies, new appliances
  • Secure fob access to building
  • Elevator access
  • Shared laundry room on each floor
  • Please note that these are not live/work units, and may accommodate light artistic practices but not any that require secondary ventilation or soundproofing. 

Accessibility 

  • There are 2 fully accessible units (1 studio, 1 one-bedroom)
  • These are given priority to eligible applicants (including individuals living in the same household) who:
    • have mobility challenges and require the assistance of a wheelchair and/or other mobility device,
    • and/or cannot live independently without the features of an accessible unit,
    • and/or is designated a Person with Disabilities (PWA) by the province.

Rents and General Terms

  • Rents range from Income Assistance rates to a maximum of the HILs (Housing Income Limits) thresholds. 
  • Monthly rents will be no more than 30% of the resident’s monthly household income (averaged over 3 years) plus applicable usage fees. 
  • Units are rented out on a month-to-month term, with a minimum of 1 month and no maximum duration.
  • Units are subject to occupancy guidelines. For example, a single person or couple would be suitable for a studio or one-bedroom unit, a single person or couple with a child or dependent would be suitable for a two-bedroom unit, etc. 
Unit TypeSize (Sq Ft)Number of Available UnitsApprox. MonthlyRental Rate*Avg. Annual Household Income
Studio32512$ 646$22,680 - $55,500
1 bedroom443-56414$ 1,106 - $ 1,393$38,840 - $55,500
2 bedroom 6232$1,556$54,622 - $67,500
Studio - accessible4501$467$16,400 - $55,500
1 bedroom - accessible5581$579$20,311 - $55,500
*Includes proportional usage fees of shared production space.

Production Space

Adjacent to 187 E 3rd is a 2,700 sq ft Production Space that will be available to residents, cultural organizations and artists in the community for arts production and programming. 221A AHS is establishing a Shared Space Advisory Committee to guide the creation of operating principles of the shared space, including how the space will be used. From time to time there may be opportunities for residents to interact, work with and mentor teens of a youth centred organization sharing the space. We anticipate that the Production Space will be operational in Spring 2022. 

The Production Space is "Artist Studio – Class B" use, which allows:

  • dance or live music involving electronically amplified sound;
  • moving or still photography (excluding video) involving on-site film processing;
  • paintings, drawings, pottery or sculpture involving the use of fibreglass, epoxy and other toxic or hazardous materials or one or more of the following processes: welding, woodworking, spray painting, silk screening or fire

About 221A Artist Housing Society

221A Artist Housing Society (221A AHS) is a newly formed non-profit society registered for the purposes of: operating and providing housing for low-income Artists and their families. 221A AHS is a sister organization to 221A, a registered Canadian Charitable organization with a mission to work with Artists and Designers to research and develop social, cultural and ecological infrastructure. 221A operates research programs, commissions public artworks and manages artists studios across five properties in the city of Vancouver, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

Housing FAQ

Who is an artist?

How are tenants selected?

What are Housing Income Limits (HILs)? Does my household income qualify?

What counts as income?

What information can I provide to determine income eligibility?

What size unit am I eligible for?

What constitutes as a family / household member?

Do I get to choose which unit I want to live in?

What art practices are allowed in the housing units?

Am I allowed to make alterations to my unit?

Am I allowed to sublease my unit?

Are pets allowed?

What is the production space?

Contact

If you have any questions, or would like to find out more information please contact us at housing@221a.ca.