Granville Street SRO resident describes severe damage inside building

A resident of the Luugat singleroom occupancy building on Vancouver’s Granville Street says the property has deteriorated badly as the province prepares to close it by the end of June. Resident Stewart Holcombe told Global News he is moving to new housing after being told last fall that the province would find residents accommodation equal to or better than the former hotel. He said his new place in East Vancouver is larger, cheaper, and offers a full kitchen. BC Housing declined a request for a media tour of the building, saying it must protect the privacy of current residents. The province said residents are in the process of moving out and that it is focused on supporting that transition. The article says the building has faced multiple fires, floods, and millions of dollars in repair and remediation costs since it was purchased during the pandemic and converted into supportive housing.