False Creek plan gets positive reviews
Speakers mostly agreeable to massive plan for Vancouver’s False Creek
Matt Robinson
The Vancouver Sun
Vancouver city council heard from scores of residents, developers and interest-holders Wednesday ahead of a key decision on whether to approve a sweeping plan to transform northeast False Creek.
The 174-page plan for the waterfront neighbourhood calls for mixed-use developments that could house as many as 12,000 residents, including an estimated 3,250 in social-housing units, and employ as many as 8,000 people.
Many who spoke during the hearing were broadly in support of the plan, though repeated speakers voiced concerns that it didn’t provide for enough rental or social housing and some expressed concern that it would only lead to more condos priced beyond local incomes.
The plan “creates an opportunity to advance reconciliation with First Nations and cultural redress with Chinatown,” according to the city, and it calls for measures to address the displacement of members of the former Black community of Hogans Alley, which was razed in the late 1960s to make way for on-ramps to the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts.
Many members of the Hogan’s Alley Working Group spoke strongly in favour of the plan, but also called for amendments to boost social and rental housing in the area.
When Hogan’s Alley was removed it fragmented Vancouver’s Black community and damaged its relationship with the city, said June Francis, a member of the group. Francis said the group hoped to see the social, economic, political and cultural voice of the community restored — something that could be aided by the creation of commercial and cultural space and rental housing in the area.
“Pass this plan now … do not delay,” Francis urged. “You as a council have the opportunity to create a legacy that is extremely important.”
The two-decade build-out of northeast False Creek could produce a $1.7-billion contribution to public amenities and critical infrastructure, according to a report by the city. It calls for new park space, roughly one kilometre of new waterfront seawall, a community centre, ice rink, spaces for child care, art, music and seniors, and community policing, among other things.
Councillors were slated to vote Wednesday on whether to approve the plan and its benefits strategy and to amend a policy on building height to allow consideration of three tall buildings in the area of Georgia Street and Pacific Boulevard. The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods and others have spoken out against the harm those buildings would have on existing views.
City staff also asked councillors to “support the scope and estimated costs” for replacing the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts with new streets. Those costs could be as much as $360 million, according to the city, though that includes some expenses that would be covered by third parties to relocate non-city services like electricity, gas and communications. In 2015, the overall cost of the project was estimated as being no higher than $200 million.
Non-Partisan Association Coun. George Affleck expressed concerns over what he called “cost creep” and said he would have liked to have seen more concrete financial figures for the viaduct removals before being asked to vote on the plan.
Kevin McNaney, a project director at the city, said staff would return to councillors at a later date with a solid implementation and financial strategy.
“What we are asking you … is just to give a nod to the scale and scope of what that project could be,” he said, adding that staff wanted councillors to “go in eyes wide open.”
Henry Tom, a member of the Northeast False Creek Stewardship Group, offered conditional support for the plan, but had concerns it wouldn’t unfold as stated: “There are so many uncertainties. There are so many hopes and dreams from many communities that are promised here that can only be delivered if the stars align.”
Peter Webb, an executive of Concord Pacific, said “never before have we seen such an alignment of public and private interests at the same time.”
Staff held more than 90 consultation events with nearly 17,500 participants, according to the city.
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