News & Updates
SPRE Site Visits: Celebrating the new Chinatown Cultural Hub
March 2018 - SPRE members toured the new Chinatown Cultural Hub. Congratulations to BC Artscape and the Chinatown community in creating over 50,000sf of space for non profits and social enterprises.
AMP CoWorking Space is Looking for New Members
Check out opportunities at the AMP and other fantastic co-working spaces across BC
Reprieve From Property Tax Increases for BC Housing Non Profits
The start on a deserately needed review of property assessement classifications--where land desingated for non profit use (non market housing or other), is not assessed at market levels.
New Westminster Approves Affordable Housing Project for Creative Community
Building on the success of Vancouver's Performing Arts Lodge (see SPRE Case Studies), PAL #2 recently approved by New Westminster City Council. Sixty-six non-market rental units for artists!
Toronto's New "Creative Co-Location" Property Tax Classification
A pilot project to test a new property tax subclass for creative co-location "... meant to significantly reduce the tax burden on landlords who let their buildings be colonized by cultural hubs. In exhcange for providing below-market leases in a commercial rental market... landlords will see their tax bills substantially reduced."
SPRE Collaborative - 2017 Year in Review
SPRE's first year with p/t staff on board! Check out the Year in Review and our Contact link (below) to reach Jacquie Gijssen, Project Director or Jordan Brown, Researcher.
San Francisco Addressing Non Profit Displacement
San Francisco's Office of Housing and Community Development together with the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Northern California Community Loan Fund are launching a series of programs to mitigate the impacts of commerical real estate markets on non profits in the region. The Nonprofit Space Investment Fund, Nonprofit Space Stabilization Program and the Nonprofit Impact Accelerator support nonprofit space and sustainablity.
Vancity Community Foundation Real Estate Grants - Ongoing
Vancity's approach aims to build the capacity and confidence of organizations to concieve, plan and undertake impactful and enterprising social purpose real estate projects and to connect them with the resources they need - expertise, partners, grant funding and creative financing--as they move along the development path.
Canada Cultural Spaces Funding - Ongoing
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions/spaces for artistic creativity and innovation. The fund supports the improvement, renovation and construction of arts and heritage facilities, as well as the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasiblity studies.
Real Estate Foundation of BC - Grant Deadline - Feb 28, 2018
Real Estate Foundation grants support projects, initiatives and sustainable solutions that address current land use challenges and help communities to plan for the future. Grants are available for research, knowledge mobilization, public and professional education and initiatives that support law and policy analysis/reform and other land use and real estate related projects benefiting BC communities.