A new mixed-use residential and healthcare facility has officially opened in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

Vancouver Chinatown Foundation officials, government representatives and community partners recently marked the grand opening of Bob & Michael’s Place. The housing component will provide homes for more than 300 residents.

The project, located at 54 West Hastings Street, was developed to address the need for social housing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Chinatown. It is named after philanthropists Robert (Bob) Lee and Michael Audain, whose combined $10 million donation helped bring the project to fruition.

Bob & Michael’s Place includes 231 independent-living suites and the 50,000-square-foot Lily’s Community Health Centre, an integrated facility operated by Vancouver Coastal Health that will serve residents and the broader neighbourhood. The building also includes a community partnerships program connecting residents with wellness services, life-skills training, mentorship and arts and cultural programming.

“Seeing Bob & Michael’s Place officially open its doors is a profoundly proud moment for all of us at the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation,” said Carold Lee, who chairs the foundation. “This project is the culmination of a decade-long vision to create a place of hope, stability, and community.

“This building is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. It honours the incredible legacies of my father, Bob Lee, and Michael Audain, two individuals who believed deeply in the importance of community.”

The development was delivered through a partnership involving the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, multiple levels of government and private donors.

“The opening of Bob & Michael’s Place is an example of what can be accomplished when we work together with our partners to address the housing crisis,” said Gregor Robertson, minister of housing and infrastructure and minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “By integrating safe, stable housing and wraparound support services, the development sets a new standard for community housing in Canada.

“Seeing this project come together from my time in Vancouver [as mayor] to today has been particularly inspiring. Projects like this are essential to building healthier communities and delivering meaningful, lasting change. We are proud to have played a role in making this vision a reality.”

Premier David Eby said the project reflects the impact of collaboration between government and community organizations.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the development supports broader revitalization efforts in Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside.

“Bob & Michael’s Place is a cornerstone in the ongoing revitalization of Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, offering stability, dignity, and new opportunities for its residents,” he said.