Granville Street SRO costs rise as one resident remains

The British Columbia government is facing criticism over the ongoing costs of maintaining the Luugat, a 110-unit single-room occupancy (SRO) building on Granville Street, for a single remaining resident. Although the province promised to close the facility by the end of June, the building remains operational, with estimated costs exceeding $150,000 since July 1.

The resident, Ryan Donnelly, reportedly requires specific accommodations, including a large room and elevator access due to a seizure disorder, which has complicated relocation efforts. Housing Minister Christine Boyle described the situation as “not ideal” but indicated that officials are working to find a suitable option.

Financial concerns have also been raised regarding the province's acquisition of the property. BC Housing purchased the former Howard Johnson Hotel and an adjacent site for approximately $55 million in 2020, despite a combined assessed value of $38.6 million at the time. Urban planner Michael Geller suggests the province may lose roughly half of its investment, noting that the property's current assessment has dropped to approximately $22.2 million following years of issues including fires and flooding.