Vancouver-based not-for-profit Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society is planning a new project that would add around 750 mixed-income affordable rental units to the City of Surrey, according to a new rezoning application.
Entre Nous Femmes, which is French for “Amongst us, Women,” describes itself as “one of Canada’s first women-led community housing organizations” and their mission focuses on “the unique needs of women, gender-diverse groups, single-parent families, seniors, people with disabilities, and other equity-deserving groups,” according to their website, which adds that they currently have a portfolio of 15 properties with over 700 affordable rental homes.
The site of the new Surrey project is 9883 140 Street, located about midway between 100 Avenue and the Fraser Highway, a few blocks east of the Expo Line SkyTrain’s King George Station. The site is currently occupied by an affordable housing community called Jessica Place.
According to their rezoning application, Jessica Place is currently home to 40 below-market rental townhouses, but the homes are “approaching its end of life.” The new proposal is intended to replace those units, with current residents to have the opportunity to move into the new buildings, while adding new supply.
9883 140 Street and the proposed road dedications. (WW+P Architects, Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society)
The application seeks to subdivide the site into two parcels and rezone the site to allow for one 35-storey tower and one 39-storey tower that would together deliver 748 affordable rental units. The proposal would require the Official Community Plan (OCP) designation for the site to be amended from Mid-Rise I to High-Rise I.
Phase One would be located at the centre of the site (Block 1 in the image above) and be home to the 35-storey tower, which will include 327 units. The proposed suite mix consists of 39 studio units, 147 one-bedroom units, 80 two-bedroom units, 50 three-bedroom units, and 11 four-bedroom units. The building would include 99 vehicle parking spaces, as well as some office space for the property management team.
Phase Two would then be located towards the west (Block 2) and be home to the 39-storey tower, which will include 421 units. The proposed suite mix is 42 studio units, 211 one-bedroom units, 84 two-bedroom units, 63 three-bedroom units, and 21 four-bedroom units. This building would include 167 vehicle parking spaces.
There is no Phase Three, but a small piece of the site in the northeast corner (Block 3) is intended to be consolidated with the property to the south — 9568 140 Street, a condo building — in the future. It will be used as a community garden in the interim.
The site plan for the 9883 140 Street proposal. (WW+P Architects, Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society)
According to a City planning report, Entre Nous Femmes has committed to providing all 748 units as mixed-income affordable rental units (rent-geared-to-income or low-end-of-market), but the precise affordability levels of the units are still being finalized, although a minimum of 40 units will be provided at below-market rents, replacing the existing units as required under City policy.
Amenities across the two buildings include meeting rooms, playrooms, a gymnasium, town hall room, multi-purpose rooms, co-working space, outdoor patios, playgrounds, and potentially a basketball court at the northwest corner of the site.
“The proposed development does not comply with the existing land use designation in the Official Community Plan but it does support policies in relation to increasing housing diversity and supply in areas with good access to transit and other amenities,” said City staff.
“The proposed development features high-quality architecture, appropriate site planning and an improved streetscape which benefits the overall surrounding neighbourhood. Staff support the development proposal on the subject site given that it will provide much needed mixed-income affordable rental housing within City Centre and supports the goal of achieving higher density development within close proximity to frequent transit corridors.”
One of the towers proposed for 9883 140 Street. (Entres Nous Femmes Housing Society)
On its project website, Entre Nous Femmes says all of the existing residents will gradually need to relocate temporarily as the new development will require the demolition of all the existing buildings on site. Tenants were made aware of the redevelopment plans as early as January 2025.
According to a July 2025 bulletin, the plan was to have all residents relocated by February 2027, construction commence in Summer 2027, and occupancy take place in Summer 2030, but that timeline entailed the rezoning application be approved in Summer 2026, which did not occur, so the timeline has now likely changed.
Entre Nous Femmes has submitted a rezoning application for the overall project plus a general and detailed development permit for Phase One. Earlier this week, during the first meeting of Surrey City Council following last month’s municipal elections, the associated bylaws were granted first and second readings without discussion then advanced to a public hearing scheduled for Monday, November 23.
