The Heart of The Kettle Reimagined
Building a New Drop-In Centre and Supportive
Housing in Grandview-Woodland
The Kettle and Cressey Development Group are applying to rezone and subdivide 485 Commercial Drive / 1683 East Pender Street in order to construct a six-storey mixed use building and a 22-storey purpose-built rental tower on the site.
The six-storey building will be operated by The Kettle and will house our new drop-in centre as well as 41 units of supportive housing. Next door, the 22-storey tower will provide 239 new market rental homes and be owned and managed by Cressey.
Why This Project is Needed
Due to an increased demand for daytime spaces, The Kettle has outgrown our current location at 1725 Venables Street. This new drop-in centre will allow us to give more vulnerable people in the neighbourhood a safe place to go during the day where they can access services and support that will help them improve their lives.
The addition of 41 supportive housing units will also increase The Kettle’s capacity to provide housing for people who need it – getting people off the streets and into homes with 24/7 support.
“The Kettle helped me find my way to a more stable place. With their support I have been able to build a better life.”
Community Benefits
The Kettle’s Approach to Supportive Housing
Our Housing & Licensed Care programs provide individuals with housing that feels like home. The Kettle believes that housing works best when it is combined with wraparound supports. For that reason, we provide high staffing ratios and support services at all of our housing facilities.
With almost 50 years of experience as a supportive housing provider, we know how to operate supportive housing in a way that contributes to a clean, safe and thriving neighbourhood. Our other housing facilities have all helped improve the neighbourhoods where they are located and which has led to a reduction of crime in those areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Project
“The Kettle is one of my favourite neighbours. My business has been located across the street from the Drop-In Centre for 15 years. We have never had an issue and have enjoyed a very positive relationship with the organization. They take great care in managing their building and provide integral services to folks in Grandview-Woodland. It’s clear that The Kettle values being a good neighbour, and that shows in how they contribute to the overall harmony of our community.”
-
The Kettle and Cressey Development Group are applying to rezone and subdivide 485 Commercial Drive / 1683 East Pender Street to enable the construction of a six-storey, mixed-use building and a 22-storey purpose-built rental tower on the site. The six-storey building will be operated by The Kettle and house our new drop-in centre as well as 41 units of supportive housing. The 22-storey tower will provide 239 new market rental homes and be owned and managed by Cressey.
-
Increased demand for daytime drop-in spaces has caused The Kettle to outgrow our current location, limiting our ability to welcome and support everyone who turns to us. Our new, purpose-built Centre will change that. With a larger, more accessible space designed with safety and dignity at its core, we’ll be able to offer greater comfort, connection, and care to those who need it most.
The addition of 41 supportive housing units alongside the Drop-In means people transitioning out of homelessness will have not just a safe place to live, but also immediate access to the community, resources, and supports that foster long-term stability and well-being.
Together, these improvements will increase our capacity, strengthen accessibility, and enhance health and safety for our members, clients, and the wider community.
-
Cressey Development Group is a Vancouver-based, family-owned real estate company with more than 50 years of experience in residential, rental, and mixed-use projects. Known for their high-quality design and long-term commitment to the communities they build in, Cressey has delivered thousands of homes across Metro Vancouver and has established a reputation for thoughtful urban development and enduring value.
-
The Kettle and Cressey have partnered on the rezoning application for this project. Cressey will own and manage the 22-storey market rental tower after the project is completed.
The Kettle will operate both the Mental Health Drop-In and Resource Centre and the 41 units of social housing once the project is completed. -
The site was previously used for industrial purposes and contained two vacant industrial buildings that have since been demolished.
-
We encourage anyone with questions or concerns about the drop-in centre or supportive housing component of the project to contact The Kettle at give@thekettle.ca. Members of the public can also visit the City of Vancouver’s webpage about this project (link will be provided when live) or participate in the two-week online Q&A period to provide input LINK HERE.
-
o 239 purpose-built market rental homes
o 41 units of supportive housing with wraparound supports and 24/7 on-site staff
o A new purpose-built and expanded drop-in centre that gives people experiencing homelessness – including the people who spend the night in nearby shelters – a place to go during the day
o The revitalization of a vacant industrial area, bringing more footfall and eyes on the street
-
At this time, we are not able to estimate when construction will begin or be finished. This will depend on when the City of Vancouver approves our rezoning application and grants us our development permit.
-
The supportive housing units will be provided to individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and would benefit from the wraparound supports that The Kettle provides.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Kettle
-
The Kettle Society is a non-profit society and registered charity with 49 years of experience supporting people with mental illness in the Metro Vancouver area to lead healthier, fuller lives. The Kettle was founded in 1976 at a time when Riverview Hospital started downsizing and patients were finding themselves in the community with no support. The mandate of the organization was to provide “care” as a complement to existing treatment facilities by attempting to enrich lives, broaden personal and social horizons and encourage participation in community life. Forty-nine years later, there is still a shortage of housing and limited support for people living with mental illness in the Metro Vancouver area. Today, The Kettle provides more than 6,000 individuals with 27 services, a mental health drop-in centre, a transition house for women, and over 400 units of supported housing.
-
Drop-in centres provide people experiencing homelessness, mental illness and addiction with vital services that support them in stabilizing their condition and connect them with health care and housing. This includes helping them meet their basic needs by providing nutritious meals and access to hot showers and laundry facilities. They also provide services that housed individuals take for granted, but that can be big barriers for people experiencing homelessness to improving their situation, such as a safe place to store ID and access to computers with internet. Most importantly, they provide a sense of community and belonging for people who often feel isolated and marginalized.
-
The Kettle believes that housing works best when it is combined with wraparound supports. For that reason, we provide high staffing ratios and wraparound supports at all of our housing facilities. We also follow our Good Neighbour Policy to ensure that we contribute to a clean, safe and thriving neighbourhood wherever we operate. Our other housing facilities have helped improve the neighbourhoods where they are located, which has led to a reduction of crime in those areas.
Further Questions
If you would like more information or have additional questions about this project, please contact us at give@thekettle.ca.