Our City- Diverse, Informed, Together
Public Hearing – January 25th, 2022If we hadn’t included it in a title years ago, this public hearing would have been a great setup for a “Grand Slam” pun. In fact, if it wasn’t for a significant amount of public support, city council would never have considered the policy updates that allow for Item #1.... Continue Reading →
601 Beach Crescent (DP-2021-00162)As another year draws to an end, this proposal under the Higher Buildings Policy was a stark reminder that almost four have passed since Hannah and I started City Duo. It was first revealed only a couple months after we began to recap our experiences at Vancouver’s civic meetings, and it’s hard... Continue Reading →
Public Hearing – December 7th, 2021While Hannah and I put our tree up this weekend, it’s too soon for this night’s items to go under the tree, as they first must be wrapped up by city council. Like good little children, they’ll start with their chores, in this case Item #1, which is essentially a... Continue Reading →
601 West Pender and 443 Seymour Street - DP-2021-00670In the 18 months since this office building's rezoning was submitted, we’ve all faced disruptions from significant tragedies to minor annoyances, such as losing one’s kitchen table to paperwork. That this development application’s Urban Design Panel review took place before it was published on the city's website... Continue Reading →
1250 Granville St (DP-2019-01014)Decisions have consequences, and city council’s referral of an amendment to allow more rental homes between Davie, and Helmcken on Granville Street back to their staff had a large impact here (pg 13). Hannah and I recognize the compromise in that request for further public consultation, as Councillors De Genova, Fry, Hardwick,... Continue Reading →
601 Beach Crescent (DP-2021-00162)There’s nothing like the atmosphere of a “super” Urban Design Panel meeting, and even senior city staff admitted they were excited to present this proposal under the Higher Buildings Policy. Granted, its general shape wasn’t up for debate, as after three revisions, over three years and despite an ongoing lawsuit, city council... Continue Reading →
625-777 Pacific StThis was easily the worst Urban Design Panel review I’ve seen, and I’ve likely attended more of them than anyone in Vancouver’s history. Granted, I am relatively young, as Hannah and I weren’t even adults when the proposal to reconfigure the Granville Loops was approved in 2002 (pg 5). Considering someone born then... Continue Reading →
Public Hearing – June 15th, 2021Updated: June 30th, 2021 - After a second meeting on June 29th, city council has approved the first four items, and heard 41 of 78 speakers on Item #5. They will return on June 30th, 2021 at 6pm to attempt to hear the rest. That said, there is still time... Continue Reading →
1317 Richards St and 508 Drake StIt’s not often an applicant team will announce to the Urban Design Panel they hope their proposal will set a worldwide example. That claim was bolstered by city staff, who admitted they were willing to stretch the Downtown Official Development Plan to enable that goal. They stressed this would... Continue Reading →
720 Beatty Street & 701 Expo Boulevard (DP-2021-00168) Update May 9, 2021 - The application has now been uploaded to Vancouver's Shape Your City website at the above link.Perhaps the most difficult thing about covering these Urban Design Panel meetings is providing an accurate summary of what occurred while maintaining these volunteers’ privacy. Hannah and... Continue Reading →
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