Broadway Plan opposition percolating...

Sponsored by

Good morning,

Over the weekend I published our first Editor’s Note. It’s our way of trying to embrace more transparency and give you a look behind our operations here at the Lookout. You can read the update here if you missed it. 

Finally, Nate’s working on some great stories this week that I think you’re all going to love. I won’t spoil them, but I’m really excited about what we’re producing here. So stay tuned.

Alright, enough with the updates, let’s dive into today’s newsletter!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Monday: 7 🌡️ 2 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 7 🌡️ 5 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 8 🌡️ 5 | ☁️

HOUSING

Broadway Plan opposition percolating…

What happened: As approvals and redevelopment proposals start making their way to council as part of the Broadway Plan, residents are mobilizing and speaking out about the changes, according to CTV, including over a development at W 14th and Yukon that would see a 18-story tower.

Background: The Broadway Plan is a massive redevelopment proposal for a large area around the new Broadway Subway line, encompassing 86 hectares between Vine, 1st Avenue, Clark Drive and 16th Avenue. The planning is complex, with different areas encompassing different tower heights. It also includes the province’s transit-oriented development areas requirements, which set heights for towers near transit stations. The goal for the plan is to build 30,000 new homes in the area in 30 years. 

• You can read the entire plan here. Warning though, it’s a big file! 

To understand an emotional issue like this, it’s worth breaking out each side’s arguments to see what they’re actually saying, both for this specific development and with the issue at-large. 

Those against: Opponents argue that the nature of Vancouver neighbourhoods would change. The area is primarily single-family homes along with apartments that are three storeys high, so adding large towers would certainly change things. 

• Another key concern is that there isn’t enough infrastructure to accommodate the increase in residents that is expected as 30,000 new residents move in over time. 

Finally, opponents also cite the pace of change. There are around 100 towers already proposed in the area (not approved though), according to CityNews, meaning that thousands would be displaced as buildings are torn down. While developers are supposed to find people housing and then offer them the same price they had previously in the new building, there is much uncertainty around the policy. The area also has more renters than the average Vancouver neighbourhood.  

• Looking back: City staff did recommend a slower pace of change rather than developing quickly to address displacement concerns, but the ABC majority council voted against it. 

Those in favour: Those who support the plan cite the lack of housing built in Vancouver and the high demand. Most of the land is being used for single-family residences, which makes living in the city impossible for most who cannot afford such expensive homes. By increasing the number of units, it will allow more to live in the city, and also help reduce prices as supply increases. 

• With so few people able to live in these neighbourhoods, the areas became hollowed out, as one person in the neighbourhood shared at a public hearing. One only needs to look at areas like Shaugnessy to see what the future could hold for single-family areas. 

Another argument in favour is that many of the buildings will include secured rentals and places below market rates. For example, four buildings that had public hearings last week all had 20 per cent of floor area/units set aside for below-market rates, according to Abundant Housing. 

Zoom out: The first development was approved on Nov. 14. It was a 19-storey rental highrise on East 10th between Main and Fraser, according to CityNews. Currently, the area where the building will be built has single-family homes. Council voted unanimously in favour. 

What it means: The fight around the Broadway Plan feels more muted than something like Sen̓áḵw, the First Nations development. As someone who watches the media frequently, the intensity of opposition also feels less than normal. One theory could be that rather than being concentrated in one specific area, the changes are taking place all over a broad area, making opposition more difficult. It may also be harder for people to understand the complexities of the changes.

• The real challenge for policymakers will be in two specific areas — will residents displaced by development actually find places to live, and can the services in the area be built up to accommodate new residents? Given the cost of development charges on new housing levied by the city — that increases the price of every unit bought — there should be no excuse for the city not to build the required infrastructure. 

SPONSORED BY RYSE

Missed out on Shark Tank’s big wins? Don’t miss RYSE

 The hit show Shark Tank has introduced the world to some of today’s most successful brands:

• Bombas – raised $200M in follow-on investment

• Scrub Daddy – over $300M in sales

• Ring – valued at $7M on Shark Tank, later acquired by Amazon for $1.2B, after all the Sharks passed!

Now, Dragon’s Den (the International version of Shark Tank) is proving to be another launchpad for promising brands, and RYSE Smart Shades secured not just one, but two offers from the Dragons. For a limited time, you have the chance to invest alongside the Dragons in a brand that could become the next household name.

With their breakthrough smart shade technology and distribution already in 127 Best Buy stores, RYSE is poised to be a big thing in tech!

This is your chance to invest early in a smart home company with big momentum.

Invest in RYSE and learn how to earn bonus shares!

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

💰 $110 million: That’s the amount of insurance payouts that the Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates will need to be paid out for the October storms in BC. [Vancouver Sun]

🏒 2: The number of Elias Petterssons that played for the Canucks Sunday night. Defenceman Elias Pettersson from the Abbotsford Canucks was called up to join the team, pairing him with the older forward and Elias Pettersson. [Vancouver is Awesome]

THE AGENDA

❌ The Granville Bridge west sidewalk will be temporarily closed for the next 6-8 weeks while the city installs traffic signals. You can use the east sidewalk of the Burrard Bridge instead. 

⌨️ The city is reminding people that due to the Canada Post strike, you may have delays in receiving things like property tax bills, utilities notices, business license notices and parking permit details. Unfortunately, you still need to make payments on time, which you can check by logging into your online account. More info here. 

👮 A nurse student at Vancouver General Hospital was attacked Thursday morning, suffering non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect remains in hospital under the Mental Health Act and will appear in court at a later date. The BC Nurses Union says safety concerns for nurses must be addressed, or the province will have trouble hiring for those positions. [Global]

🏒 The Canucks were victorious over the Blackhawks on Saturday, winning 4-1. The Blackhawks star forward and North Vancouver resident Connor Bedard, was held scoreless. Unfortunately they lose last night 5-3 against the Nashville Predators. The team sits in third place in the Western Conference, with a 9-5-3 record. [TSN]

🗳️ With a Vancouver council seat by-election set to take place in 2025, it could be an opportunity for voters to express their feelings about the mayor’s decision to end the park board. It’s unlikely that the question would be put to a plebiscite, even though advocates are calling for it, but it could be a factor in determining how people vote, depending on what stance candidates take. [Vancouver Sun]

🚂 The popular Bright Nights Stanley Park train ride event sold out in a day, and many people were frustrated about ticketing problems, including lengthy delays and the website being overwhelmed by web traffic. Stanley Park Railway apologized but has no plans to add more sales or dates. [Vancouver Sun]

Outside Vancouver

🗳️ With the BC NDP barely scrapping together a majority government, the Premier says they plan to double down on the big issues voters care about, including affordability, health care,  community safety and housing. Some might say that’s almost every issue! The Premier also emphasized focusing on the basics, the things that people are thinking about around the kitchen table. [CTV]

❌ If you’re planning on driving Highway 7 soon, you may want to reconsider. A rockslide is blocking the road near Hope. You can take Highway 1 and 9 instead. [CityNews]

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver: 

1. Director of communications and marketing, Simon Fraser University

2. Senior director, account management at Hootsuite

3. Director, sponsorship relations at Prize

4. Social impact specialist at YVR

5. Senior development officer at Pacific Salmon Foundation

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

It’s not that I’m not a Taylor Swift hater, I just don’t listen to much of her music. But what I can get behind is using her popularity for a good cause.

BC Place has given away tickets to charities across BC, which those organizations then use to fundraise, according to Global News. Some suites are going for between $100,000 to $320,000. Some groups that have benefited include UBC Hospital Foundation, BC Children’s Hospital, Big Sisters and many more. Now that’s what I’d call good Karma.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

I’m a sucker for beautiful nature photos and this shot of the Two Lions, or Two Sisters, as the local First Nations call them.

GAME TIME

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The iconic polka dot property in Vancouver is disappearing soon. [CTV]

• Millennials will appreciate that Linkin Park is coming to Vancouver next year. [Vancouver Sun]

• Raccoon sightings are becoming more and more common in Vancouver. [CityNews]

• Now those are some cheap gas prices in Point Roberts. [Reddit]

• Here’s a handy food and drink guide as you make your way through the Eastside Culture Crawl. [Scout]

• Someone managed to capture a video of part of the drone show downtown this weekend. [Reddit]