Culture

Vancouver density debate needs to be reinvigorated

by innes | February 9, 2008 at 03:24 pm

1186 views | 0 Recommendations | 5 comments

Trevor Boddy looks at the unfolding EcoDensity debate in Vancouver:

It is too bad the EcoDensity debate got dragged into an election year. Over the last few months, this discussion has entered an unwelcome and unprecedented new phase. Talk about residential density in Vancouver is getting un-civil.

An element of skepticism has entered the debate about the value of density. Given our urban trajectory over the past four decades, this is as startling as not liking snow on Grouse Mountain, or refusing an invitation to dim sum.

What's worse, the grumbling is not coming from dwellers in downtown's condo forest who are about to lose their last remaining view to yet another tower, but from residents of long standing in some of our lowest density neighbourhoods, on both Eastside and Westside.

The anti-density skirmishes are mounting. On the Eastside, a modest regime for granny flats, housing infill, and re-development of major streets east of Nanaimo along Kingsway prompts a hot reaction from a handful of objectors. What the community really thinks is even more in doubt now, because on February 5 a poll of residents was thrown out as flawed, City Hall arguing its results had been skewed through cloned submissions by anti-density forces.

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cynthia yoo

at 13:42 on February 10th, 2008

More density, with good mix of residential/commercial use, more public/community space seem commonsensical to me.

Joe Planner

at 15:48 on February 10th, 2008

I took a picture of relatively high density development in the sleep suburban city of Milwaukie, Oregon, about 6 miles from downtown Portland. Higher density development in the Portland Metro area is intended for designated "town centers" such as these - the historic downtowns of surrounding cities. These centers are then connected by high-quality, high-capacity transit to each other and the central city (downtown Portland). Density in this fashion is well situated to reduce traffic and parking impacts and preserves surrounding farmland and historic single-family neighborhoods.

Joe Planner has contributed a photo to this story.

davidliong06

at 02:39 on February 11th, 2008

New Ideas - Government Process 1/3

It is a Modern Art item try to express / reproduce the high density housing in Hong Kong. Which is so small and tide like bird cages. I try to express a further meaning, as Hong Kong government has unusual close relationship with construction developers, the whole idea of high land value to high density housing are actually the government policy. Recently the government try to allow the decision making more open to the public - the more " Transparency" . However, instead of a black box, it only turn to be a bird cage. You can see through it, but can't really touch it.

davidliong06 has contributed a photo to this story.

Meremail

at 04:14 on February 11th, 2008

Medium/High density in Brisbane Australia

Here in Brisbane Australia, many areas have been redeveloped as medium density living in parts of the city that had docks and old industrial buildings that didn't need to situated close to the city centre. Brisbane Council developed a city plan that tried to achieve a balance of livability and resource management.

The city has grown very fast since Expo88 as people from the southern states moved here for the climate and lifestyle, resulting in a severe strain on infrastructure such as public transport, roads, water and electricity.

The new buildings and renovated older buildings have been very popular and in demand resulting in escalated real estate prices, to the detriment of the locals.

I have posted a night time photograph showing the view across the river to buildings in the suburb of New Farm, that are about 3 stories high, just 4-5Km from the city centre. New village style shops have been included, and an old power house that provided electricity for the cities trams is now an arts and exhibition centre, and hosts produce markets, while a nearby sugar refinery was redeveloped into heritage listed apartments.

So, here, I think the change to medium density has worked well, and is very popular, but it needs to be carefully planned and managed.

kate

at 11:15 on February 11th, 2008

I just wish they would create space for families downtown. There are really no condos with enough bedrooms for a family of four, and anyway there are no schools. You can't live there unless you are a single person or a couple with no children, or perhaps a single or couple with one child still tiny enough to sleep in a sock drawer. I think this is one of the greatest oversights in the whole downtown residential plan for Vancouver.