Atira Women’s Resource Society generated big buzz two years ago when it opened Canada’s first-ever social housing development built from recycled shipping containers. The organization has another planned for the Downtown East Side (rendered above), but the Strathcona Residents’ Association voiced concerns at an open house last week that the seven-storey project—with 20 studios and six two-bedroom units for housing women and children—lacks space for retail and community amenities, which are badly needed in an area where commercial space mostly consists of wholesale businesses and boarded-up storefronts.

Atira chief Janice Abbott (seen here during a tour) was on hand at the open house to stress that the project at 420 Hawks Ave must undergo rezoning, a process that could take up to a year, so there’s plenty of opportunity for neighbourhood feedback to shape the design. Building with shipping containers on the first project at 502 Alexander St resulted in lower construction costs and a cheaper cost per unit, about $80k, according to Atira. And Janice says she'll be looking to this next project for further evidence that building with containers is truly less expensive.