Vancouver city council has approved a rezoning application that would turn this Mount Pleasant rental apartment into a 21-storey, 190-room hotel.

The decision came after nearly 13-hours of public hearing with more than 300 speakers, with ABC Councillors and Mayor Ken Sim voting in favour.

“In the process of voting, they forgot that they were talking about humans, elders, and children who live in Vancouver,” said Simon Peter Daniels, a tenant of the building for 25 years.

Around 40 tenants of the 27 affected units of Myron Manor, who have been voicing their opposition since last year, will now face eviction.

“A lot of stress and anxiety of not knowing where to go.”

The extended stay hotel was originally meant to help support the relocation of tech workers.

“This hotel, in particular, will serve that whole neighbourhood but people visiting Vancouver in general, it provides another option of deeply, deeply needed hotel space in the city,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. 

In a statement, developer Nicola Wealth says it will go beyond the city’s tenant relocation and protection policy to help residents by providing financial assistance and finding below market housing.

“The compensation from the TRPP is far less than.. within a short space of time, it will be finished, and you will be back to square one.”

“They don’t actually communicate with us at all, they don’t respond to our emails, we’ve never actually spoken to a Nicola Wealth employee,” said Michael Cook, a tenant of 11 years.

Nicola Wealth adds there are no anticipated changes to the property for at least two years.

Meanwhile, tenants are planning to file a judicial review against the decision.

“We’re gonna use those two years to continue to fight, not only our own displacement, but this trend of replacing long term rentals with hotels.”