Construction is continuing on the Gastown Child Care Centre, which no doubt has the best view of any childcare facility in Vancouver.
Architects Acton Ostry recently shared construction progress photos of the 74-space child care facility situated atop the EasyPark parkades between Water and Cordova streets, across from Woodwards. The facility will serve children ages 0-4.
The development application was first filed in 2018 for the project, which is owned by City of Vancouver. The YMCA of Greater Vancouver has been appointed as the non-profit operator. The facility will be the YMCA’s 35th child care centre in Vancouver once complete.
The childcare facility includes outdoor play areas with spectacular views of the North Shore and Burrard Inlet, protected by glass walls.
The location of the childcare facility is unique, maximizing the use of an under-utilized parking garage.
“Due to the increased shortage of viable childcare sites in the downtown Vancouver area, we need to capitalize on existing city-owned land and infrastructure to provide new facilities for children to learn and play,” said Mayor Kennedy Stewart in a statement. “The creation of child care facilities on these two Gastown parkade rooftops is a great example of how the city and province are collaborating to take an innovative approach to increasing access to childcare spaces for Vancouver families.”
The City of Vancouver has a goal of creating 1,000 new licensed childcare spaces between 2019 and 2022.
The Gastown child care facility is being built to Passive House standards and is targeting LEED Gold certification. Construction costs are estimated at $17 million, funded in part through Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) from developers such as Bosa Development and Westbank, as well as a $1 million major capital grant from the provincial government and the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
