Category Archives: Design & Development

Thinking About Density? Or Rezoning in Vancouver? Or Voting?

17 Sunday Jun 2018

Posted by in Design & Development, Housing, Policy & Planning, The Livable Region, Urbanism

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Pseudonymous housing wonk YVRYIMBY (Vancouver, Yes In My Back Yard) has created a wonderfully simple yet powerful, data-driven graphical view of Vancouver and its housing crisis.

Consider it a required backgrounder to the premise that land locked up in exclusionary, low-density zoning inflates the cost of land in higher-density zoned areas, due to scarcity. Rezoning more land for higher density should reduce land cost per built square foot and, secondarily, reduce the demolition of existing rental stock.

Needless to say, these ideas attract varying opinion. Sort of like bike lanes did in the bad, primitive olden days. Read on >>

Northeast False Creek Rezoning Referral~ Bedrooms without Views and Buildings Blocking Views

15 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by in Design & Development, Housing, Policy & Planning, Urbanism

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In the City of Vancouver, council is trying to get as much done as they can before the October 20th election.

That includes rushing two Council reports — the Northeast False Creek (NEFC) rezoning plans for 750-772 Pacific Boulevard (the Plaza of Nations site, or Sub-area B), and the 777 Pacific Boulevard site (1 Robson Street, or Sub-area 10c).

The reports for these two sites can be found here and here. By approving these two reports to go to public hearing this summer, the Vision party dominated council can be assured that at least part of their housing mandate is pressed forward. But at what price? Read on >>

Then and Now: Architectural Perspectives by Vancouver Photographer at Venice Biennale

15 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by in Architecture, Art & Culture, Design & Development, Urbanism

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Architectural photographer Andrew Latreille, a Melbourne native based in Vancouver, has just returned from Venice for the launch of the architectural exhibition of the 2018 Venice Biennale (running now through November 25th).

The exhibition features a selection of photographs from Latreille’s exhibit THEN and NOW, which pairs photographs, made in Vancouver and the Yukon, that illustrate stories of the making of architecture, showing moments in construction, and moments when the architecture is complete.

You can see the stunning photographs — including one of new Vancouver House being built that you won’t soon forget (you may even seek out this view for yourself) — in his photo gallery here. Read on >>

Vancouver’s Cultural Dilemma: Heritage and Reconciliation

07 Thursday Jun 2018

Posted by in Architecture, Design & Development, History & Heritage, Policy & Planning

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It was interesting timing; the May 14th announcement by Ian Campbell, Hereditary Chief of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), that he would seek the Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate nomination, and the following announcement.

Via GlobeNewsWire:

On May 15, 2018, City of Vancouver Council unanimously approved the Policy Statement for the Heather Street Lands. The Policy Statement sets direction for how the land will be used, providing 2,000 homes in the growing Cambie Corridor, including 400 units of affordable housing.

Here’s where the cultural dilemma enters the picture. Read on >>

Vancouver’s Granville Bridge Ramps

01 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by in Architecture, Design & Development, Housing, Policy & Planning, Transportation

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Yesterday’s Globe and Mail carried an advert from the City of Vancouver (see below), looking for people who’d like to lease some downtown land.

According to VanMap, “X” marks the spots, currently the location of on- and off-ramps for the Granville Street Bridge. These offerings acknowledge, no doubt, the vast underutilization of this freeway-that-never-was.

And the greater opportunity for the land now stranded by the ramps. Read on >>

Vancouver Diary: Portapoppies

30 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in Cycling, Design & Development, Nature & Public Spaces, Walking & Mobility

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From Dianna, along the Arbutus Greenway:

How to make a sign look awesome: plant a bunch of wildflowers.

Even the portapotties are landscaped. Portapoppies?

Also, work at Marine Drive: reconfiguring the bike lane and adding a signal. I had my own personal escort across the busy street.

Thank you, Vancouver, for making the awesome Arbutus Greenway even more awesome.

Downtown Vancouver Viaducts Teardown — Explainer

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Design & Development, Governance & Politics, History & Heritage, Infrastructure, Motordom, Policy & Planning, Transportation, Urbanism

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From About Here founder Uytae Lee — part of the team at Halifax-based PLANifax — comes the following video, entitled “Why are we getting rid of a highway in Vancouver?”.
It’s a cogent and thorough backgrounder on Vancouver’s viaduct teardown project.
It runs 5:28. It’s light, heavy, serious and fun at the same time. And it’s worth every second.
Read on >>

Metro Vancouver Bike to Work Week — Spring 2018

28 Monday May 2018

Posted by in Cycling, Design & Development, Infrastructure, Policy & Planning, Transportation, Urbanism, Walking & Mobility

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Under perfect skies, Metro Vancouver is celebrating the growing number of people who choose to ride their bike to work.  Many, I’m sure, are creating their free BTWW accounts, creating routes, logging their trips, and hoping to win a bike or the big prize — a trip for 2 to Portugal.
The following pix are from Burrard and Pacific on Monday, May 28, one of over 80 Celebration Stations in a dozen municipalities in the region.
Read on >>

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