Daphne Bramham: Will citizens fit into Vancouver’s redevelopment plan?

Article content

When the City of Vancouver asked the residents of Grandview Woodlands to plan their neighborhood, they overwhelmingly supported increased population density.

Article content

Their 272-page community plan took nine months to develop and was approved by Congress in 2016. The plan envisioned more apartment buildings and buildings of 24 stories or less. Seeking a “social heart with a new civic plaza” and his 1,400-unit low-rise, affordable housing that enables families of all kinds, as part of a redevelopment of the Safeway site on East Broadway and Commercial Drive. I was. From refugee to professional.

Article content

More densely populated than Vancouver’s West End, which has many rental properties, this community wanted to help create something special. We didn’t explicitly rule out the possibility of luxury condos, but the intent was clear. Neighborhoods should remain diverse, vibrant and welcoming.

Article content

Commercial Drive has an Italian/Boho/craft beer vibe in the heart of the East Vancouver neighborhood between Clark Drive, Nanaimo Street, East 12th Avenue and Burrard Inlet.

The community is home to the city’s largest indigenous people and has a high proportion of heritage buildings. Most of the stores along Commercial Drive and Main Street are owner-operated. Bins of flowers, fruits and vegetables jut out onto the sidewalks of ethnic grocery stores.

The plan lists community values ​​as “true democracy, transparency, inclusive engagement”, diversity and character. And it is a change that is “integrated, step-by-step and sustainable” and “responsive to the needs of rural and urban populations”.

It’s part of what Andy Yang, director of city programs at Simon Fraser University, describes as the “Civic Crescent.” Its crescent stretches to include Hastings Sunrise, Fairview Slope, Kitsilano, and Point He Gray and parts of downtown.

Article content

Crescent residents are among the most committed in Vancouver. They cast the most votes, filled out the census form, and – here’s an added twist – Yang is the best area for trick-or-treating because most people give out a lot of candy. He said.

In the states they are represented by the New Democrats. And in 2018, the mayor most endorsed former NDP MP Kennedy Stewart and his pledges on transparency and affordable housing.

Four years later, intentionally or by chance, these neighborhoods are largely reshaped by the 30-Year Broadway Plan. Approved in June by a margin of 7-4 (including Stewart’s vote), rezoning nearly 500 blocks, allowing up to 40 stories along the Skytrain route and his 20-story building on a side street To do.

Article content

Paisley Woodward and other Grandview Woodland residents were already reeling from the West Bank Group’s plans for a Broadway and commercial Safeway site.

One of the three towers now has 40 floors. Instead of 20% rentals, it’s now down to 16%. Of the 653 rental units, only 93 are priced below market. There are also 215 condominium units.

An ad hoc group of residents thought the mayor would be interested in hearing from them. Other councilors did.