1210 Seymour St (DP-2022-00227)To say I was shocked to learn this non-market housing co-op has been in the works since city council created the Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency eight years ago would be an understatement. Hannah suggested my actual reaction might be too colourful for print, yet she wasn’t thrilled to find out the Planning... Continue Reading →
November 18th, 2021 Public Hearing – Ashley Marr Housing Co-op Shoots For A Cambie Corridor Hat-trick
Public Hearing – November 18th, 2021(Update – November 19th, 2021 – Despite relatively few speakers, city council only finished Items #1-3, meaning you still have time to comment on Item #4, which will be heard on November 25th, 2021.)Like recent Canuck’s games, it would be tempting to ignore this public hearing. After all, Item #1... Continue Reading →
Ashley-Mar Co-op Overcomes A Rough Landing With A Rental Housing Revolution
8460 Ash St and 8495 Cambie St (Ashley Mar Co-op Site)In the time that’s passed since Hannah and I last attended an event about the future of the Ashley Mar Co-op, an adorable newborn would be well into their terrible twos. This vision has grown too, as while the co-op’s future home remains 15 floors... Continue Reading →
UDP Hopes To Streamline The Essence Of Vancouver Through Support Of Affordable Mass Timber Homes
1001 Kingsway This Urban Design Panel review embodied a debate Hannah and I often hear from trained urban professionals. Should new growth follow the Yaletown's concept of tall, thin buildings that provide more green space, or does the Olympic Village's bulky, but short, form create better livability. In this case, city staff permitted the former,... Continue Reading →
Federal Housing Investments To Boost Provincial Forest Industry With A Hundred Year Shadow Of Affordability
1001 Kingsway Perhaps I was feeling a little sentimental due Hannah's week long absence, but as I made way to this open house I was struck by the beauty of this area of Kingsway. I certainly don't mean the mix of new rental buildings and old, decaying automotive shops, but rather the old pre-war structures... Continue Reading →
October 1st, 2019 Public Hearing – Will A Pie Sized Hole Trigger Another Federal Debate? Vancouverites Rejoyce Over The Potential Of New Co-Op Homes
October 1st, 2019 Public Hearing The last time a proposal for new rental homes on Fraser Street went before City Council, it resembled less of a Public Hearing, and more of a Federal Election debate. At that meeting, Don Davies and Tamara Taggart presented a vastly different view of the riding's future. That said, while... Continue Reading →
A Holy Trinity – Passive, Modular, Co-op Housing Pushes All The Right Buttons To Win UDP Support
3279-3297 Vanness Avenue Part of the reason I attend the meetings of the Urban Design Panel is to witness the small things that don't make it into the official minutes. That's not because of any secret conspiracy, rather it's the result of a trained professional sifting through what's relevant, and what makes life entertaining. Hannah... Continue Reading →
River District Landmark Meets With A Flood Of Support At The Urban Design Panel
3338 Sawmill Crescent - DP-2019-00363 - (EFL parcel 13) (formerly 3310 Marine Way) Sometimes one can only appreciate life's little ironies after they happen. That was certainly demonstrated by this Urban Design Panel review of a fairly typical development in the East Fraser Lands. After all, 28 floors of rental housing may not reflect the average Vancouver... Continue Reading →
Market Rate Quality for a Cooperative Community – A High Bar is set for Collingwood’s Future
3279-3297 Vanness Avenue As we made our way to the Collingwood Neighbourhood House, I could not help but be a little irritated. That had nothing to do with this admirable project, which adds 102 non-market co-op homes only a couple blocks away from Joyce–Collingwood station. Rather, it was that Darren kept remarking how he had... Continue Reading →
Marpole Embraces Blueprint for Family Friendly Future – A New Tower Cluster Comes to Marine Drive
8460 Ash Street and 8495 Cambie Street (Ashley-Mar Housing Co-operative) Before we get started, both Darren and I want to say thank you to our fellow Vancouverites for all the open house notice cards we have received. We thought the best way to express our gratitude is to write up our event recaps with enough... Continue Reading →