Khatsahlano was a huge success — could that mean more walkable summer streets?

Good morning,

I hope you all had as much fun this weekend as our mayor, who shotgunned a beer at the Khatsahlano Street Party.

Today we’ve got:

• The state of pedestrian-friendly streets 👍

• A report on the impact and solutions to future heat domes 🥵

• And the latest sports scores ⚽ ⚾

Let’s get to it

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout writer

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

WEATHER

Monday: 21 🌡️ 15 | ⛅

Tuesday: 22 🌡️ 14 | ⛅

Wednesday: 22 🌡️ 14 | ⛅

INFRASTRUCTURE

Khatsahlano was a huge success — could that mean more walkable summer streets?

What happened: After a hiatus due to COVID, the popular Khatsahlano Street Party roared back to life, taking over 10 blocks in Kitsilano with thousands of people attending, according to the Vancouver Sun. It’s got us wondering here at the Lookout, if these events are so popular, why don’t we make street closures like this more permanent during the summer?

Background: Pedestrian-friendly open streets are roads blocked off to regular car traffic, creating a street accessible only for pedestrians. Vancouver has been a laggard in adopting these types of streets — currently, Yew, which is closed for two blocks between Cornwall and West 1st is the only test case in the city, according to Vancouver is Awesome. The pilot will continue for the summer, and if it is successful, may continue or be brought back next summer.

Zoom out: Cities across the world have more quickly adopted these types of streets, especially in the wake of COVID, to encourage people to congregate and create more space.

In Canada: If you’ve ever visited Montreal, you know how great they are. The city announced 10 such streets this summer, which includes 8.3 km of roads closed to traffic, according to CityNews.

• It also may create neighbourhoods where more people desire to live, if this tweet is any indication.

Opposition: Speaking generally, businesses in the area tend to be opposed to these, since it means fewer parking options. It also poses a challenge for delivery trucks, though, in the case of Yew Street, there will be designated times for deliveries.

What’s next: Gastown may be about to become more pedestrian-friendly, with a modernization plan that includes pedestrianizing Water Street, according to the Vancouver Sun. Back in May, the city said the tests could happen this summer, but likely won’t until 2024.

• Part of the Granville Entertainment District area plan also includes removing buses from the street and making it a place for people to view outdoor performances, gatherings and activities, according to Urbanized.

Thought bubble: Mayor Ken Sim promised to make Vancouver a fun city, and pedestrianizing streets is a simple and effective way to do it.

Dig deeper: Cities around the U.S. and the world are experimenting further with pedestrian-only spaces. If you’re interested in learning more, here are some stories to check out:

• Boston experimented with blocking off a major street, and turneded into a vibrant destination. [Boston]

• New York is increasingly looking at pedestrianizing the area around Broadway. [City & State New York]

• Pontevedra, a small city in Spain, prioritized pedestrians. And it transformed the city. [EuroNews]

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

��️ 24: The number of storeys that a developer has submitted for an office tower near the future South Granville SkyTrain Station. [Urbanized]

💰 100,000: The number of households at risk due to the rental crisis in the province. [Vancouver Sun]

😡 11,000: The number of abusive tweets during the Vancouver and Surrey municipal elections that targeted candidates. [Vancouver Sun]

WEATHER

That hot weather? It’s only getting worse. And B.C. isn’t prepared…

How bad was the 2021 heat dome and are we prepared for the next one? That’s the question a new report is asking, bringing up some uncomfortable questions and tough choices for policymakers.

The report: The Canadian Climate Institute argues the province needs to be ready for ongoing deadly heat events, with similar average temperatures like the heat dome expected three out of every 10 years by the mid-century, according to the report titled “The Case for Adapting to Extreme Heat.”

The findings: The report says it was one of the “costliest disasters in B.C. history when

the cost of the lives lost is accounted for.” Buildings will need to adapt by integrating more mechanical cooling. And health and electrical infrastructure were pushed to the breaking point.

• It was so hot that hospital equipment failed during the heat dome, due to electrical breakdowns, according to the Vancouver Sun.

In Vancouver: In the worst-case scenario, Vancouver could see its average temperature rise by more than four degrees by 2100.

Housing problems: The report highlights that most Vancouver and B.C. homes are not well prepared for heat waves of this magnitude, and are designed to retain heat, not keep residents cool. B.C. also has a low rate of A.C. adoption compared to other parts of Canada, with only 36 percent compared to 84 percent in Ontario.

What it means: Vancouver and B.C. are woefully unprepared for future rising temperatures. The province has launched an initiative to provide air conditioning to vulnerable residents during heat waves. But if the report is any indication, more will need to be done, especially around housing, to prevent future deaths and future-proof the city and province.

Dig deeper: You can read the entire report here, which goes into much more detail about the impact and solutions to prevent problems like this in the future.

Find your dream job in Vancouver:

1. Assistant director, social policy and projects at the City of Vancouver

2. Regional manager, public affairs at Vancouver Coastal Health

3. Director, people services and total rewards at Community Living British Columbia

4. People & culture generalist at PayByPhone

5. Product manager at BCLC

6. Account executive for PR at Citizen Relations

THE AGENDA

🏠 A single dad in Vancouver is raising concerns about affordability, since he cannot afford a two-bedroom place for himself and his son despite having $75,000 salary. [CBC]

👮 A suspect was arrested Friday night after he tried to light an abandoned building at East Hastings Street and Commercial Drive on fire in East Vancouver… [CityNews]

🔥 And an SUV was damaged Thursday in East Vancouver after a fire in an SUV. No arrests have been made and it’s unclear if it was accidental or done on purpose. [Global]

🪧 The port strike is, well, still a strike situation with no end in sight. But in some good news, both the workers and the port are back at the negotiating table, after a four-day break. [Reuters]

📄 The Squamish First Nation will adopt the British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act for the Sen̓áḵw development. The nation would become one of the biggest landlords of purpose-built rental housing in B.C. Since the development is on First Nations’ reserve land, there was no precedent for a project like this. [Urbanized]

🔒 Granville Island Brewery is temporarily closed as workers are now on strike. Workers are calling for wages to keep up with the huge cost of living in Vancouver. The brewery is owned by Molson-Coors, which made $10.7 billion in revenue last quarter. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🗑 If you’ve ever wondered who picks up Vancouver’s trash, here’s an insightful interview with three of the 70 garbage workers who keep our city clean, and what it means to do a job very few are interested in. [The Tyee]

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Start your week off with some good news:

A pride lawn display at the Shaughnessy Heights United Church was targeted by vandals for the third time in three years, according to Global. But local volunteers refuse to give up, joining together to paint over the doors.

Said the church reverend, “We are a church that wants the world to know everyone is loved no matter what… That’s the message. We are determined. The message of today is determination against hate in the world.”

EVENTS

Greek Summer Fest | Greek Orthodox Community of East Vancouver | Now until Sunday July 16, 11 am | Greek food, Greek music, Greek performances, what’s not to love? | Free

Outdoor Movie - Super Mario Bros | Second Beach - Stanely Park | Tuesday, 9:15 pm | Come see Italian brothers outdoors! You can show up or book VIP seating | Free, but VIP seating available

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony | The Orpheum | Thursday and Friday, 7 pm | Come listen to the classics as they celebrate characters like Bugs, Daffy, Elmer and more | Starting at $39.52

Chow Down Chinatown | David Lam Hall, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver | Friday, 6 pm | Grab some food from a Chinatown eatery and enjoy some kung fu movies and music | Free

Vancouver Folk Music Festival | July 14-16 | Jericho Beach Park | The popular event is back, with shows, workshops and featuring over 40 performances | Multiple prices

Vancouver Chinatown Festival | In Chinatown | Saturday and Sunday | The popular event features walking tours, food stalls, stuff for kids, and opportunities to check out local businesses | Free

PNE Singles Night | Pacific National Exhibition | Saturday | If you’re single and ready to mingle, then this event at the PNE is for you, including speed dating. Rides are included in the event admission | Starting at $20 

Powell Street Festival | Oppenheimer Park | August 5-6 | Celebrate Japanese art and culture at the popular festival this summer, with music, food, crafts and more | Free

SPORTS

🏒 The Canucks have re-signed forward Nils Höglander to a two-year, $2.2-million contract. He scored three goals and six assists in 25 games last season for the team. [TSN]

⚾The Vancouver Canadians won 10-7 on Friday, 6-5 on Saturday and lost 1-7 on Sunday against the Hillsboro Hops, a team from Oregon. Vancouver sits at 10-5, for the top in the Northwest League, two games up on Everett.

⚽ Tough beat for the Whitecaps. The team lost 2-3 against the Seattle Sounders, with a late goal in extra minutes. The team has not won an away game in more than a year, and that win drops them to six wins and seven losses, with ninth place in the division. [The Province]

SURVEY

On Friday, we asked readers if they thought the city should shut down public golf courses and turn the spaces into housing.

• 40 percent agreed with the idea

• 60 percent disagreed with the idea

Here’s what some readers said:

“More space for housing is good... in addition, though, getting rid of (or reducing the size) of the Langara course so that 57th Avenue could go through, and have a cross-town bus route on 57th Avenue, would improve movement and transit matters in South Vancouver tremendously!”

“We need golf courses, bike trails, walking tracks, track and field tracks, soccer and baseball fields, skating rinks, parks, playgrounds and all kinds of public spaces. Not every person will use or enjoy every public space, but we all benefit from the options.”

“Do one as a pilot project. Make a tiny home complex with shared spaces for gardens and growing vegetables.”

Thanks to everyone for sharing your opinion!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ever hear of Lebanese ice cream? Called booza, it’s a chewy ice cream made from traditional, local flavours. And now you can try it at Le Parfait. [CBC]

• It’s unclear how this street performer is able to play so many instruments at once. [Reddit]

• Apparently Metro Vancouver bears like trampolines, or at least these two do. [CBC]

• Take a look inside the new Chinese Canadian Museum. [Macleans]

• A Vancouver airport sign is causing some confusion because there is no way anyone eats pizza like this. [Reddit]

TWEET OF THE DAY

It’s certainly is a city of contrasts!

POLL

A Dutch politician is proposing to ban rich people from buying certain homes, according to CBC. Here in Canada, rich people and corporations are buying up properties for their investments. In Ontario 45 percent of condo owners are not owner-occupied, meaning they are renting them out, potentially as investments.

GAME TIME

Congrats to everyone who guessed Friday’s Wordle. The answer was BIKE.

Today’s quiz question — what street is Vancouver testing a pedestrian-friendly open street? Reply with the answer and your name to have it featured in the newsletter on Wednesday.