Rally against the Shadows
City Conversation #59: When Vancouver city staff pit low barrier housing against schools and parks, a community comes together hoping not everyone loses
June 22, 2022—Leading up to the public hearing for a proposed high-rise spot rezoning development at 8th & Arbutus, the Kitsilano Coalition organized a rally at 7th And Arbutus—that’s the corner between Delamont Park, St. Augustine School and the low barrier housing proposal. I was asked to speak briefly, following 14-year old Ivy’s rendition of Joni Mitchell’s classic, “The Big Yellow Taxi”
If the proposal is approved, the Delamont Park neighbourhood toddler park will be in shade for much of each afternoon.
Listening to Ivy’s rendition of Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi, I thought two things: I’m old enough that I remember when it first came out on in 1970—my hair colour is a dead giveaway; and secondly, what was happening in 1970 informs what’s happening here, today, a half century later, with this proposed rezoning.
Here in 1970 in Vancouver, citizens, including TEAM mayoral candidate, then teenager Colleen Hardwick were protesting a freeway through Chinatown. Those protests were eventually successful, also leading to the founding of the The Electors Action Movement, TEAM as it became known as, which gained control of City Hall and initiated a new era in Vancouver, centred around real community consultation and enlightened urban planning. The good work here in Vancouver continued for two generations, ending about a decade ago.
The fact of this rally and the unprecedented opposition to this project speaks to how far we have strayed from our livable neighbourhoods and the current staff’s ignorance about why Vancouver has been so livable for so long—many members of Council, including the current Mayor are also complicit in this erasure of our livable past.
I’m not sure where today’s crop of city staff and politicians were when Vancouver’s livable communities work occurred, but they clearly weren’t paying attention. Just look at the Broadway Plan, of which this spot rezoning proposal forms the western edge, or wedge. The Broadway Plan repeals all the neighbourhood-sponsored planning work completed in Mount Pleasant, Fairview, South Granville and, of course, Kitsilano. As an aside, the coming–soon Vancouver Plan, covering the entire city if passed, will eliminate all 23 Vancouver neighbourhoods.
It’s as if the 11 zoning areas that currently define this eastern area of Kitsilano and support its character were cleaved from the wider Kits neighbourhood, to be replaced with 14 new zonings imposed from on high, none of which resembles what’s been replaced. The latest version of the Broadway Plan, with final deliberations by Council occurring as we meet here, indicates this project could be the first of up to 75 high-rise buildings between Vine Street and Burrard, 1st Avenue to 16th—and this proposal would be one of the shorter towers.
Out of such ignorance of our city comes support for this proposal comprised of either misspoken words in the press and social media, or just the silence of city staff. What’s noticeable for me is how little of substance has been written by those who support this rezoning. Simply slinging terms like NIMBY, privileged, elitist, etc.—I know you’ve heard them all because many of you have told me you fear the viciousness that has been unleashed in social media—the insult slinging has not addressed our concerns about this project. And governments simply describing the project as essentially a done deal is a copout of epic proportions.
My recent blog post, Forever in the Shadows, viewed so far by more than 2,000 folks, addresses this urban design fail in more detail. I have already spoken and written against the Broadway Plan. I will be speaking against this proposal at the public hearing scheduled on the evening of June 28th as will 3D modelling guru Stephen Bohus. Numbers count at public hearings—how many speak for or against, how many send their thoughts to Council for or against. Staff monitors the numbers daily and reports them to Council. Those who favour this proposal will also monitor the numbers and I assure you they will recruit many folks to speak in favour of this project, including many who live nowhere near here and have no children. They will be speaking in favour because: perhaps they believe in the city’s top-down approach to planning; or perhaps they feel the rights of the potential inhabitants of this project trump the rights of its neighbours. Their motivations do not matter in current city politics—they will be given as much weight by Council as your words explaining how this will all impact your children, their school, Delamont Park and your neighbourhood. Numbers count.
So you must both speak and email if you value Kitsilano and the livable Vancouver of which it’s a part. You must speak up—in person at City Hall is best, because in these pandemic times showing up means more; by telephone if in person doesn’t work for you, because voices matter more than written words and Councillors can ask you questions—and they will; and via email if the first two options don’t work for you. Your words can be as simple as I’m opposed to this development, but are better when they include your reasons. As neighbours, there are no reasons that are selfish—they are just heartfelt. The Kits Coalition site provides instructions on how to send email that counts and sign up to speak in person or by phone.
I have talked about almost everything except my concerns about the urban design of this project. To summarize what I’ve written: where we are standing today will be in shade when children arrive at school, every morning of every school day of every year, and will still be largely in shade during morning recess; and if you hang out in Delamont Park in the afternoon, you and your neighbours will be largely in the shadows.
If this rezoning is approved, you and your Kits neighbours, including the residents of this proposed building, will all be Forever in the Shadows.
Calls to Action
A more detailed, excellent and well researched accounting of the history of this rezoning proposal to date can be found in a recent CityHallWatch article, written anonymously for privacy concerns. You will find much there to inform your remarks to City Council.
It’s not too late now to speak to Council about this spot rezoning—you can sign up starting 8:30am from this Friday the 17th right up until the public hearing starts at 6pm on the 28th —earlier is better and numbers count! You can also email Mayor and Council with your thoughts right up until they finish deliberations—again earlier would be better. It might be worth you mentioning in your presentation or correspondence that one of the 40-something amendments approved for the Broadway Plan that covers this site states that New buildings should minimize shadowing impacts on independent schoolyards, particularly during school hours. Seems pretty clear to me.
Vancouver’s civic election is October 15th of this year. Lots more damage can be done to our city before that date—and it will continue, and worsen, unless TEAM for a Livable Vancouver elects a majority (6 of 10) City Councillors—less than 6 and not much will change. If you are concerned that what you’ve just read is an example of what’s wrong with our city, and want to bring back its livability, join TEAM and work with us to restore Vancouver as a place we can all afford to call home.
Today’s question: Are you in favour of this spot rezoning?
I read and respond to all comments made below. If you enjoyed this post, consider becoming a free subscriber to City Conversations at
I am a Vancouver-based architect, building envelope and building code consultant and LEED Accredited Professional (the first green building system). I am semi-retired for the moment, still teaching and writing, so not beholden to any client or city hall. City Conversations mix real discussion with research and observations based on my 40+ year career including the planning, design and construction of almost every type and scale of project. I am the author of the award winning Amazon best seller “An Architect’s Guide to Construction.” I am also a member of TEAM for a livable Vancouver, a new political party dedicated to restoring a livable Vancouver starting with the 2022 civic election. Although I am not a candidate for TEAM or any other civic party, City Conversations are generally congruent with TEAM policy, so if you like the ideas that I’m writing about, please consider joining TEAM.
Rally against the Shadows
I support this project for three reasons:
1. High density at a subway station makes perfect city planning sense, to increase ridership on the subways. If not there, where?
2. Supportive housing must be dispersed throughout the city, including Kits where I live. People who for many reasons, fall through the cracks, need our compassion not our fears.
3. The shadow on the park argument is a cover for no not “them”. Actually too much direct sun is bad for little kids. Ergo… sunscreen.
You’re probably right about #2 Brian.
Certainly more professional social worker or psychologist inputs might find the right mix of residents in this building.
Argue that point & you may get a workable solution that Eby may accept.
Still sticking to my #1 and #2 however.
The Coalition’s vehemence is not helpful and does smell of NIMBY. Sorry, but the label is being used for a reason. And Eby will likely overrule Council if they reject it, for this reason.