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Commercial Drive development plan includes drop-in centre

The Kettle offers $1 lunches, arts program

The corner of Venables and Commercial Drive will be transformed if Boffo Properties gets its way.

Owner Daniel Boffo wants to revitalize the north end of Commercial Drive with a commercial and residential development that would incorporate a larger centre for The Kettle, which helps people with mental illness, alongside supported and market housing.

Boffo was inspired by the location and the challenge of incorporating The Kettle drop-in into the development. He compared it to the redevelopment of Woodwards in the Downtown Eastside.

Were hoping we can do something similar, smaller scale obviously, for this area, and help contribute to the revitalization of The Drive.

Boffo Properties holds a master agreement with The Kettle Friendship Society and made preliminary recommendations for the site to the city. But a rezoning of the block that includes Astorinos Ballroom, The Kettle, Ace of Suedes and a city-owned parking lot would be delayed while the city and community work out a new vision for the Grandview-Woodland area.

Boffo said it is too early to say how many housing units or storeys the development could include.

The city will formally launch the community planning process this spring. Its expected to take up to two years, according to Boffo.

The Kettle drop-in centre operates from a 7,000-square-foot facility that was renovated in 1999. The societys agreement with Boffo Properties proposes a new space thats one-third larger.

Were busting at the seams, said Nancy Keough, executive director of the Kettle Friendship Society.

She said the centre has maxed out at 150 visitors per day. It cant provide adequate space for those who visit for the daily lunch that costs $1 or can be eaten in exchange for a chore. The Kettle, which started on Commercial Drive in 1976, wants more space for its arts program and to host health and wellness groups.

Were very member driven, so it really will be a lot of planning with the members about what they would like to see us have, Keough said.

In addition to an expanded drop-in and meeting space, building 10 to 15 or more supported housing units is being discussed.

The Kettle provides more than 200 units of supported housing, including supporting 160 people in market housing in the community.

But the waiting list is 10 years, Keough said.

Boffo, who has Italian roots and is based in an office four blocks west of Commercial Drive on Venables, jumped on the Astorino property when he learned it was for sale.

Weve definitely attended our fair share of banquets and weddings there, said Boffo, whose father started the development business 40 years ago.

The most recent project by Boffo Properties was the TowneWalk townhouse development northwest of Metrotown in Burnaby, which was nominated for a Georgie Award, which Boffo described as the residential home builder industrys version of the Oscars.

crossi@vancourier.com

Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi