In 1952, with initial funds from the Lions Clubs, the Foundation purchased three acres of land located between Horley Street and Euclid Avenue in East Vancouver. Over the next eight years, a total of 14 small buildings were constructed providing accommodation for over 100 people

Approximately 30 years later, the time came to look at redevelopment of the “Lions View” site with a goal of increasing the density to provide more accommodation for seniors. The buildings had reached the end of their useful life and the two-story walk-up apartments were not suitable for seniors with mobility problems.

Over the next few years, many ideas and plans were developed and discarded. In 1989, the Foundation enlisted the services of Terra Housing Consultants. Jim O'Dea brought forward the idea for a 4-phased redevelopment. The proposal was adopted by the Board of Directors and started the Foundation on a path which would take the next five years to complete.

The plan required the co-operation and co-ordination of all three levels of government, the existing tenants, architects, contractors and hundreds of hours of staff and volunteer time. The best part is that it worked!

The idea required the consolidation of the 3 acre parcel of land and subdivision into three separate parcels – a rezoning by the City of Vancouver. Then came the task of selecting an architect/developer team who would agree to carry the cost of the rezoning and the development of plans necessary to submit a proposal to B.C. Housing Management Commission (BCHMC) for a unit allocation to build Phase I – a 43-unit seniors' apartment building which would replace one-half of the existing housing. The Board of Directors interviewed architect/developer teams and chose Davidson Yuen Simpson Architects and Van Maren Construction. Once the commitment was received for Phase I, Canada Mortgage and Housing gave approval to pay out the existing mortgages and the relocation of 30 tenants began. Many were moved to other buildings owned by the Foundation and BCHMC helped relocate others in some of their buildings.

The new Lions View Building I opened in December of 1993, and we were able to move all of the tenants still living in the old buildings into a new building in time for Christmas.

Phase II required a unit allocation of a further 47 units from BCHMC and construction began early in 1994. In order to provide an affordable rental housing project, the Board of Directors reached an agreement with Van Maren to sell a piece of the property for a condominium development – Phase III. Phases II and III were under construction at the same time with Phase II ready for occupancy in October 1994.

With the proceeds from the sale of one parcel of land and a second parcel of land now free of the old buildings, it was time to start Phase IV – a 34 unit seniors' building which required no government subsidy. This building opened September 1, 1995 with one bedroom units starting at $500 per month and 2 bedroom units starting at $650 per month.

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