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- Here’s what’s happened since the city cleared the East Hastings encampement
Here’s what’s happened since the city cleared the East Hastings encampement
Plus: rental prices are rising and the city could soon shed its no-fun label.
Geoff Sharpe
April 12, 2023
Good morning,
I’m back after a short break on Monday. The time off was nice, but I’m feeling rested, relaxed and ready to write again!
In other news, I cannot stop watching this video of people from Britain confused about the lack of transit in B.C. communities. I grew up in Vancouver and can confirm it’s hard to get around in smaller towns.
Today’s newsletter catches you up on the encampment situation, the rising cost of rental prices and if Vancouver is slowly inching towards becoming a fun city. Short answer? It’s mostly good news.
Let’s get to it.
— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity newsletter writer
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WEATHER
Wednesday: 13 🌡️ 4 | 🌤
Thursday: 11 🌡️ 4 | 🌧
Friday: 12 🌡️ 7 | 🌤
VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS
💰 $1,141: The price per square foot of a downtown Vancouver condo up five percent between January and February, and demand in downtown condos is up lately. [Western Investor]
🏢 0.97%: That’s how much more people with a median home value of $1 million pay in income tax versus someone who owns a $3.7 million dollar home. One expert says our tax systems favour those who put their money into homes rather than work for it at a job. [Vancouver is Awesome]
CITY HALL
Former East Hastings encampment residents struggle to find housing
It’s been seven days since the city cleared out the tent encampments on East Hastings, and the current situation illustrates the broader challenges facing Vancouver when it comes to fixing the homeless crisis.
What happened: Even though the city evicted the encampment, tents continue to periodically reappear in the area, while the city says they plan to repeat the clearing out process to ensure no structures are permanently stationed in the area, according to Global.
The province’s response: Premier David Eby called the situation “unsustainable,” not safe and that there is housing available for people to live in:
“It’s emergency shelter space, it’s dignified, there (are) meals and it is a chance to assess people, get a sense of what they need for housing and get them into the housing that we’re bringing online. One-hundred-and-ten units a month over the next three months to get people inside into permanent housing”
Yes, but: It’s unclear if there’s actually enough housing. The President of the Union Gospel Mission told CBC their building was already at capacity. They’ve been forced to lay mats on the floor for people. Other groups, like the Salvation Army, said they too are also dealing with limited housing options for evicted people.
Opposition mounts: The president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees of BC spoke out against the forced displacement, according to CityNews, saying “the mayor’s tactics, forcibly removing people from their homes and disposing of their belongings as they watch, are unnecessarily cruel and dehumanizing.”
Zoom in: Even though the encampment was removed, CTV reported that tents are appearing in other areas outside of East Hastings. The general manager of the City of Vancouver even acknowledged this was likely to happen after the clearing. Tents have been spotted in Oppenheimer Park and Kitsilano’s Vanier Park.
What comes next: The premier has said they also plan to clear the CRAB Park encampment which has been around for over two years, according to Global, even though B.C.’s Supreme Court did not allow an injunction to clear it last year, saying housing alternatives were required before a clearing could happen.
Dig deeper: Reddit users shared the effects that they’ve seen from the encampment eviction.
Thought bubble: People are not going to stop setting up tents, that much is clear. Without enough housing, we could see even more encampments. The province has said more housing will be available soon at Orange Hall in East Hastings, according to Global. But while long-term solutions are being worked on, it doesn’t solve the short-term situation.
QUOTE
“We need to recognize that the shelter system’s not working, the SROs, we’re losing them at a rapid rate, they’re unsustainable and they’re uninhabitable in many cases. So we need some immediate solutions.” Coun. Pete Fry discussing the encampment clearing situation, according to Global.
EVENTS
Is Vancouver about to be more (gasp) fun?
Woah, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. It’ll take more than one summer to shake that label. But some new decisions by city council are paving the way for a little more excitement this summer.
Accessible drinking: City council voted to expand the Drinking in Public Plaza Program into a year-long initiative with six venues, according to CityNews. People can enjoy a bevy with their friends instead of trying to sneakily chug a can of Fat Tug. The locations include:
Cambie St and W 17th Ave
Cambie St and W 18th Ave
Granville St and W 13th Ave
Granville St and W 14th Ave
Lot 19, 855 West Hastings St
Main St and E 21st Ave
Hours will be different between summer and non-summer months.
Don’t forget the parks: In December the Parks Board voted to look into making the Alcohol in Parks program permanent, according to CTV. That means there’s a good chance drinking in the parks will also be year-round rather than just in the summer.
Beaches may also be on the horizon, but according to CTV, nothing has been announced about it yet.
More events: A motion before council yesterday sought to increase events in the city by allowing them to be hosted in more non-traditional spaces, according to CityNews. Warehouse party anyone?
There is already a policy that allows this, but there is a two to three event limit per month. The motion was referred to today’s Standing Committee on City Finance and Services meeting, according to the city.
Analysis: Given a core part of Ken Sim’s “State of the City” address was about restoring pride, increasing event and generally having more fun, we should expect more policies like this in the future.
DREAM HOME
Palatial is how to describe this immaculate property at UBC. I’m not a huge fan of the black marble floor, but with six bedrooms, you can just go to a different room. As a movie fan, I can't help but love the media room. Might I suggest the new owners watch Parasite? I kid, of course.
But what is not a joke is the price.
THE AGENDA
⛺ Squatters rights? Campers have set up a permanent shelter in one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the city. [Vancouver Sun]
☁️ More shelter beds have been made available until Thursday due to the weather. Read the list of places here. [City of Vancouver]
🏒 Bo(h) my. Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat was in hot water over a comment where he said Islander fans were “a lot better than Vancouver fans.” He says it was all a misunderstanding and didn’t mean to disrespect Vancouver fans. Canucks fans of course are known for being extremely forgiving and understanding… [Globe and Mail]
🔥 A civil suit has been launched by former residents of the Winters Hotel in Gastown after it burnt to the ground. Two people died in the fire. [Vancouver Sun]
🏢 Chinatown is grappling not only with homelessness but gentrification. A new book shares some interviews with those on the frontlines of the changing neighbourhood. [The Star]
🚓 A man was charged with assault after he hit and beat a 70-year-old on Granville and Smithe. There is no word on the victim’s condition. [Global]
🧒 A new series investigates the impact of COVID on young school children, many dealing with significant delays in childhood development. [CityNews]
👮 The Vancouver Police Department will now take into account a person’s age, arrest allegation and ethnicity when it comes to handcuffing someone. It comes after B.C.’s first Black Supreme Court judge was mistakenly arrested after police mistook him for someone else in 2021. [CBC]
🏗️ The provincial government has purchased a 12-storey former seniors assisted living building, located at 1450 West 12th Ave. near South Granville, that will be renovated into 115 supportive housing units. [Urbanized]
HOUSING
Apartment rental prices up in April
What happened: Rental prices for a one-bedroom unfurnished apartment across the Lower Mainland increased last month. The top five most expensive cities to rent in Canada are in the area, according to Vancouver is Awesome.
The numbers: Rental prices increased by an average of $55, for a total of $2,263 per month. West Vancouver is the most expensive at $2,730.
Vancouver: Good news, the city’s one-bedroom rental price dropped. Bad news, it was only $67 for an average price of $2,523 per month. A two-bedroom apartment will set you back $3,523 and a three-bedroom $4,298.
Good luck finding anything under $2,000 in the city. The average downtown Vancouver price was $2,830, while the lowest price was $2,110 in Strathcona-Grandview Woodland.
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Bad news, the weather this week is set to be unseasonably cold. [CityNews]
Some unusual passengers caught a ride on the Seabus this weekend — a group of raccoons. [Global]
The City of Vancouver is looking for people over the age of 55 to help shape their Senior's Housing Strategy. Frankly, I think anyone under 60 is still young and I’m not just saying that to curry favour with my older readers! [City of Vancouver]
The floating Chevron gas station is one of the more weird sights in Vancouver’s harbour. Now a Reddit user who claims to be the manager has shed some light on the spot. [CityNews]
A Vancouver firefighter is being honoured after he tried to put out a fire, suffering serious burns in the process. [Global]
You’ve heard of adopting a highway but did you know you can adopt a catch basin? It helps present flooding in your neighbourhood. [City of Vancouver]
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Thanks to Reddit user aneraobai for sharing this. What a night!
GAME TIME
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s VancouverGuesser time. Summer is getting closer so I thought we’d feature a beach. Any guesses where this is?
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