The B.C. government has finally relocated the last remaining resident of the Luugat SRO Hotel on Granville Street, which was initially promised to be closed by the end of June. The province had been paying $101,000 in July alone to keep the building open for this one tenant. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is questioning the government's handling of the situation, citing concerns over costs and repurposing the building. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is also calling for answers on how much taxpayers have spent overall on the Luugat, including operations costs and repairs.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The last remaining tenant of the Luugat SRO Hotel on Granville Street in Vancouver, which was supposed to be closed by the end of June, has been moved out. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs confirmed that all residents have been relocated to alternative housing. The B.C. government had promised to close the building, but one tenant stayed behind until last week. This has resulted in significant costs for taxpayers, including $101,000 in July alone. Global News is awaiting a breakdown of total government spending on the Luugat, which was purchased by the province for $55 million. The long delay in closing the building has been criticized by Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, who said it may not seem like a big deal to the provincial government but has a significant impact on the community every day.
Written for “Granville Street Single Room Occupanc…” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
All remaining tenants of the Luugat SRO Hotel on Granville Street have now moved out, the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs confirmed to Global News.
asserted
Ministry → remain → News
As of mid-August, B.C. taxpayers were still paying to keep the building open for one remaining resident.
asserted
taxpayers → pay → resident
The B.C. government promised to close the Luugat by the end of June, but one tenant remained.
asserted
tenant → promise → June
“All residents of the Luugat have been relocated to alternative housing,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the tenant was relocated from the building last week.
“The final resident’s tenancy has ended and they are now living in other housing, while their remaining belongings are in the process of being moved.”
asserted
belongings → relocate → process
The late checkout at the former hotel comes with a big bill for taxpayers, including $101,000 for July.
asserted
checkout → come → July
“It may only seem like a couple of months and in the whole scheme of things it may not feel like a big deal to the big provincial government, but the impact in the community every single day is a big deal and… they can do better,” Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said.
uncertain
Sim → seem → community
Global News is waiting for a breakdown of total government spending on the Luugat, since the province purchased the Howard Johnson Hotel property for $55 million in 2020, including operations costs, staffing, repairs and taxes.
asserted
province → wait → costs
Get breaking National news
“I do think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered,” Sim said.
asserted
Sim → get → questions
“Why did it take so long?
asserted
it → take → ?
How much did it cost?
asserted
it → cost → much
How much is it going to continue to cost as they repurpose the building?”
asserted
they → go → building
A past tenant of the building, Vance Hughes, told Global News that once the SRO was turned into social housing, it was quickly destroyed.
asserted
it → tell → housing
He described it as a “cesspool,” saying there were too many drugs.
asserted
He → describe → cesspool
Despite being told that the media could not tour the inside of the Luugat while a tenant was still residing there, Global News was told we could not tour the Luugat on Wednesday again.
uncertain
we → tell → Wednesday
- City of Calgary seeks bids to study feasibility of a major stadium project
- Danielle Smith rejects taxing oil exports, pushes increased diplomacy efforts with U.S.
- Quebec premier to meet lieutenant-governor Thursday, launching election campaign
-
asserted
premier → seek → campaign
Ford government enjoys polling bump after latest U.S.-Canada trade war twist
asserted
government → enjoy → war
The CEO of Downtown Van said she hopes this closure brings some momentum.
asserted
closure → say → momentum
“Now we’re focused on making sure that the process keeps moving and that the province keeps their word and that the folks who are in the other two provincially-owned SROs in the entertainment district are relocated to homes and facilities that suit their needs,” Jane Talbot said.
asserted
Talbot → focus → needs
The province has no timeline for the closure of the St. Helen’s Hotel and Granville Villa SROs.
asserted
province → have → Hotel
In a statement to Global News, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) said that while the last tenant is now gone, the taxpayers are still waiting for answers.
asserted
taxpayers → say → answers
“The government spent $55 million on the Luugat, spent another $101,000 keeping it open for one tenant in July, and still won’t say what the total bill has been or let the cameras see inside,” the organization said in the statement.
asserted
organization → spend → statement
“Taxpayers deserve accountability.
asserted
Taxpayers → deserve → accountability
The province’s acquisition of the Luugat was a disaster for taxpayers, for the community and for the tenants placed in an unlivable building.”
asserted
acquisition → place → building
The CTF said that now the building is empty, there is no excuse for secrecy.
asserted
building → say → secrecy
The ministry said that now that housing operations at the Luugat have ceased, Community Builders Group has shifted to a nominally staffed, security-focused model that manages vacant building risks.
asserted
that → say → risks
