Yes. I was particularly impressed in the early 80's while taking a course in urban design at BezAlel school in Jerusalem, of the Community Planning office structure, for example in the Mia Shearim neighbourhood. All proposals for the community were available for viewing at the office for weeks before permits were issued. A local planner with detailed knowledge of the community, history, architecture etc was available for discussion and opinion of the local residents. This was incorporated into the eventual design. Worked really well.
Further, while your low key densification described is an admirable goal, you neglect to delve into the real roadblock, the 3 levels of building codes (federal, Provincial, municipal) which are applied to this type of construction. Homes that have been safe and secure for 100 years are made to reflect 2022 ideas of safety for new construction, making most of them impossible to break into suites, or even basement suite permitting. I have examples.
Another great piece, even more powerful than the first one showing how badly things could go wrong. I appreciate your using your experience and expertise to give us a detailed look at how things could be done right. How inspiring and hopeful that there is an alternative that looks like it could work!
TEAM is the only way that progressive members of the Vancouver community can participate in City planning at the grass roots level and oust the pro Developer biased Council and Planning department who have shown no attachment to the community based discourse!
"When the province attempted to override the refusal of Vancouver’s new Council to approve the Broadway Plan, the city’s legal staff took them on—and won, albeit at the BC Court of Appeal, where the Court agreed that the city had the best hand on what population needed to be accommodated."
Another view would be that "what population need to be accommodated" just leads to a whack-a-mole process. There is still money to be made in the development business -- maybe even moreso if the pace of development decreases -- and so the smart developers search hard for those areas where the opposition will be least organized. Will neighbourhood planning offices become an arms war?
Great post Brian – especially as offset to sad V1.
One wrinkle in this scenario is NDP’s school tax surcharge. Property tax rate doubles values above $4M, so hard to infill efficiently & economically on many properties.
You have clearly and succinctly explained how the current problems in Vancouver regarding housing can be solved. I've joined TEAM and I hope you will continue to show the way forward to reclaiming our city as the most livable possible.
Yes. I was particularly impressed in the early 80's while taking a course in urban design at BezAlel school in Jerusalem, of the Community Planning office structure, for example in the Mia Shearim neighbourhood. All proposals for the community were available for viewing at the office for weeks before permits were issued. A local planner with detailed knowledge of the community, history, architecture etc was available for discussion and opinion of the local residents. This was incorporated into the eventual design. Worked really well.
Further, while your low key densification described is an admirable goal, you neglect to delve into the real roadblock, the 3 levels of building codes (federal, Provincial, municipal) which are applied to this type of construction. Homes that have been safe and secure for 100 years are made to reflect 2022 ideas of safety for new construction, making most of them impossible to break into suites, or even basement suite permitting. I have examples.
Another great piece, even more powerful than the first one showing how badly things could go wrong. I appreciate your using your experience and expertise to give us a detailed look at how things could be done right. How inspiring and hopeful that there is an alternative that looks like it could work!
TEAM is the only way that progressive members of the Vancouver community can participate in City planning at the grass roots level and oust the pro Developer biased Council and Planning department who have shown no attachment to the community based discourse!
"Interestingly, the city’s rental vacancy rate improved during that period." Please explain.
"When the province attempted to override the refusal of Vancouver’s new Council to approve the Broadway Plan, the city’s legal staff took them on—and won, albeit at the BC Court of Appeal, where the Court agreed that the city had the best hand on what population needed to be accommodated."
Another view would be that "what population need to be accommodated" just leads to a whack-a-mole process. There is still money to be made in the development business -- maybe even moreso if the pace of development decreases -- and so the smart developers search hard for those areas where the opposition will be least organized. Will neighbourhood planning offices become an arms war?
Great post Brian – especially as offset to sad V1.
One wrinkle in this scenario is NDP’s school tax surcharge. Property tax rate doubles values above $4M, so hard to infill efficiently & economically on many properties.
You have clearly and succinctly explained how the current problems in Vancouver regarding housing can be solved. I've joined TEAM and I hope you will continue to show the way forward to reclaiming our city as the most livable possible.