Vancouver SRO future remains uncertain nearly a year after collapse warning

A 116yearold singleroom occupancy hotel in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside remains standing nearly a year after the city warned it could collapse, but its future is still unresolved. The Summer Hotel at 341 East Hastings Street was ordered unsafe to occupy after a fire in October 2025, and city council later told the owner to either stabilize the building or demolish it. The owner says the structure can be repaired, but work has stalled because permits have not been issued and safety requirements are still being reviewed. The city says work was done without permits and may have disturbed hazardous materials. WorkSafeBC has also issued stopwork orders over structural concerns and possible asbestos, and says no further work can begin until required safety reports and inspections are completed. One remaining tenant says the building should be saved and returned to use, while a heritage consultant says the issue should be resolved through the proper process rather than demolition.