Public Space Update – 3 December 2010
RECENT UPDATES
- Expanding Robson Square – Update on City Council’s Decision!
- Wednesday December 8 – Public Space Animation Workshop
- Wednesday December 8 – North East False Creek Open House
OTHER VPSN PUBLIC SPAC E MEETINGS
- Monday December 6 – Urban Design Backgrounder Meeting
- Tuesday December 7 – Transportation Issues Meeting
- Monday December 13 – Public Space & Public Health Project Meeting
RECENT UPDATES
Expanding Robson Square – Update on City Council’s Decision!
Excellent news on the public space front! The City has taken a solid step forward in securing the 800-block segment of Robson Street (between Hornby and Howe) for a public square. They have also taken steps to embed this plan within a larger public space program from the Downtown (something that will lend the planning for Granville Street and Yaletown other proposed sites a greater degree of coherence).
The discussion unfolded at yesterday’s Council – and was very positive, giving rise to a considerable degree of consensus between the different political parties. As one Councillor noted, “we all want this square.” To this end, we are particularly pleased that the idea of an expanded Robson Square was singled out as something that requires priority attention amongst other public space initiatives – as this provides some security against the idea of an expanded Robson Square (and the golden window of opportunity that is currently in place) from being lost amidst a larger discussion of Olympic Legacies and downtown public space.
You can read our account of the discussion, as well as notes on some key items that we’ll be monitoring over the next months, in this longer post.
Wednesday December 8 – Public Space Animation Workshop
Do you have an innovative idea about how to increase community public space through the temporary reallocation of road space in Vancouver? If you answered yes, then the City of Vancouver/VPSN Summer Spaces 2011 Ideas Workshop is for you!
In 2009, the City of Vancouver piloted a community public spaces initiative called Summer Spaces. Vancouver City Council has asked that City staff continue to refine the Summer Spaces program and prepare a Call for Proposals process for 2010. Selected proposals would be implemented in Summer 2011. The goal of Summer Spaces is to increase community public space and community interaction by temporarily reallocating road space in creative and innovative ways.
During the workshop we’ll be discussing changes to the Summer Spaces program for 2011. We will highlight some of the innovative public space work being done in other cities and also provide an opportunity for interested community groups/individuals to begin developing proposal ideas in a collaborative forum. If you are thinking of submitting a proposal to receive City support for your idea then your attendance at this workshop is important. Space is limited so please RSVP!
The workshop is free and snacks/refreshments will be provided. The session takes place Wednesday, December. 8th, 6:30-9pm, Mt. Pleasant Community Centre – 1 Kingsway, Multipurpose rm.#2
Please direct any questions you may have to Krisztina Kassay at summerspaces [at] vancouver.ca or call 604-829.4348.
Wednesday December 8 – North East False Creek Open House
The City of Vancouver will be holding an open house for the planning process in North East False Creek this Tuesday December 8th from 4-8pm at the Roundhouse Community Centre and all interested members of the public are encouraged to attend.
This open house will be a chance for you to share your ideas and have your comments heard on future options for the Plaza of Nations site (Canadian Metropolitan Properties) and the North East False Creek area. Staff will be on hand along with the developer to answer your questions. Along with display materials, there will be a walking tour of the site at 6pm and a presentation at 7pm. For more information about the open house and the planning work being done in North East False Creek, please view the City of Vancouver’s website on this process: www.vancouver.ca/nefc
Takes place 4pm – 8pm, Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews (at the corner of Davie and Pacific Boulevard).
OTHER VPSN PUBLIC SPAC E MEETINGS
Monday December 6 – Urban Design Backgrounder Meeting
Our last Urban Design Working Group meeting was a roaring success. One of the outcomes of that session was a follow-up gathering for volunteers who are specifically interested in working on one of our foundation documents/backgrounders on urban design and public space, or, one of upcoming position papers on current urban design ‘issues’. If you have a knack for research or writing, consider coming out to this session and lending a hand.
:: To RSVP and get meeting details – scott [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca
Tuesday December 7 – Transportation Issues Meeting
It’s been a while since we’ve had a Transportation Working Group meeting that convened folks interested in walking, biking, public transit and more. This is it! If you’ve got interests in any or all of the aforementioned issues, or ideas about other connections between transportation and public space, please join us as we brainstorm some new projects and reenergize some of our current work
:: To RSVP – demian [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca
Monday December 13 – Public Space & Public Health Project Meeting
The VPSN has recently assembled a project team of volunteers who are interested in the connection(s) between public health and public space. Part of our work will be scoping out and developing a set of backgrounders to explore the points of overlap between these areas, as well as other advocacy materials and creative activities to help promote a healthy urban environment.
:: For meeting details or more info – andrew [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca.