After several months of negotiations, the City of Vancouver and CP Rail have reached an agreement on the future of the Arbutus Corridor.

The City will purchase the 9km rail line for $55 million. It’s a deal that will allow the City and its residents to acquire a tract of land running almost the full length of the municipality – a total of 42 acres of open space between Milton Street (on the Fraser River) and West 1st Avenue.

All in all, this is an exciting turn of events, especially given the sometimes challenging discussions that have taken place between the two parties over the few years.

CP had stopped using the tracks in 2001, but had recently cleared them again – along with the adjacent community gardens that had been created in the interim – after indicating an interest in reintroducing trains along the route. Discussions around the possible sale of the land appeared to stall early – CP at one point said the land was worth almost eight times the sale price. Thankfully though, both parties persevered to in the interest in resolving the issue.

One of the many gardens that lay along the Corridor. Photo Adam O’Neill

Building on the Corridor’s recent legacy as a greenspace, the City has already indicated that the site will contain a “greenway” – for pedestrians, cyclists and community gardens.

Interesting, the City has also indicated that a portion of the lands may be considered for future use as a streetcar or light rail route. (A nod to local history: the old Vancouver-Richmond Interurban Line traversed parts of the same route in the first half of the 20th century).

Just for fun: the Lulu Island Interurban Station – at 3rd and Granville, ca 1910

Also in the agreement is an arrangement that allows ‘excess lands’ – those not used for the greenway or transportation purposes – to be redeveloped. It will be important to monitor how this component of the arrangement evolves, especially given the revenue scenarios that were negotiated. Depending on the extend of development, the overall cost of the purchase could be offset, even eliminated.

It is difficult to know what, if anything, this provision might mean at this stage – but it would be reasonable to assume that the City is considering some dimension of cost-recovery as part of the transaction. That’s a fair and reasonable thing to do, but of course it will be the details that count. Locating density near to key community assets is a respectable planning move, but it may also come with its share of controversy among those community members along the corridor opposed to the introduction of new residential (or other) uses.

In the meantime, we’ll take this opportunity to endorse the acquisition of the corridor. The purchase, while coming with a hefty price-tag, is a win for the city, its residents and visitors alike. A well-designed greenway will be a true asset to the city, and a nearly unprecedented addition to Vancouver’s public realm.

The City is already floating ideas about the consultation and planning process.

Additional details can be found in the lengthy media release below.

City of Vancouver
News Release
March 7, 2016

City and CP agree to landmark agreement for the creation of the Arbutus Greenway

The City of Vancouver (City) and Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) have reached a historic agreement that will secure the legacy of the Arbutus Greenway for public use for years to come. The City has agreed to purchase the railway route from CP, which represents 42 acres of open space running approximately 9 km from Milton Street to 1st Avenue for $55 million.

“The City’s historic purchase of the Arbutus railway is great news for Vancouver,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Thanks to this landmark agreement, the City will be able to transform the area into an outstanding greenway and connect neighbourhoods from False Creek to Marpole. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, not unlike New York’s High Line and other international examples. City Council is looking forward to the next steps in this process and to working with the community to enhance the greenway for all users.”

“For many years now, CP has been involved in conversations with the City about the future of the Arbutus corridor,” said Keith Creel, CP’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are pleased that today’s landmark agreement allows the City to create a transportation corridor and greenway while providing a fair return to CP and our shareholders.”

This agreement signals the end of a long negotiation process between the City and CP that lasted over four years, and ensures that Vancouver residents can continue to use the transportation corridor and greenway as a walking and cycling route. In 2013, the City included the Arbutus Corridor as a green transportation corridor in the City’s Regional Context Statement, approved by Council and the Metro Vancouver Board, and is now integrated into the provincially-approved Regional Growth Strategy. The City and CP are pleased to have arrived at this landmark agreement that provides new opportunities for the creation of a greenway.

City staff will now begin to look to improve or upgrade certain parts of the Corridor to enhance public space, and will launch a dedicated Arbutus Greenway Project Office to oversee the design process and solicit public input on the final design of the transportation corridor and greenway.

BACKGROUND

Summary of transaction:

• Purchase price: $55 million
• Title to corridor properties (~42 acres spanning ~9km) from Milton Street to 1st Avenue transfers to City on closing and payment of $55 million
• Lands not needed for transportation corridor, if any, (“Excess Lands”) may be repurposed for other uses, or sold. If these lands are sold, City to share a portion of revenues with CPR

Revenue sharing options:

1. Sharing of net proceeds from sale of Excess Lands
________________Canadian Pacific Railway City of Vancouver
First $50 million 75% 25%
Second $50 million 50% 50%
Third $50 million 25% 75%
Thereafter 0% 100%

OR

2. CP may exercise option for lands between West 1st and 5th Avenues. If they do so then there is no sharing on any other portion of the Corridor that might be sold. If CP receives more than $75 million on the option sites, then the City will receive 50% of such excess proceeds.

Source of funding for City of Vancouver:

1. Property Endowment Fund: $20 million
2. Capital Facilities Reserve: $35 million

Removal of rails/ties:

• CP to remove rails and ties, beginning within a year, to enable the City to construct a transportation greenway and reserve space for future light rail/streetcar

Environmental Liability:

• City has now completed its due diligence (reviewed all of the CP provided environmental reports and completed environmental testing – both onsite and offsite)
  • No significant contamination was identified on or adjacent to the Arbutus Corridor
  • No further investigation work is recommended at this time
  • For transportation corridor improvements, no further environmental work is anticipated but to be further confirmed by new project office

Next steps:

Design for walking/cycling/light rail:

• City to expedite design areas for walking and cycling use, and design area for future light rail/streetcar use
• City can begin construction of transportation greenway as soon as rail is removed and it is anticipated that some portions will be completed by the end of 2017 and the remainder by end of 2018
• Once above designs are prepared, City can commence planning and public process to consider if there are any excess lands (with goal to complete public and regulatory process within four years after closing) and if so, how these are to be developed

Establish Arbutus Greenway Project Office:

• City will establish a dedicated office to expedite design of the transportation corridor for greenway and space for light rail
• Estimated funding to establish project office and complete transportation corridor design and public engagement work, and planning and disposition of Excess Land, if applicable: is up to $3 million

History of the Arbutus Corridor:

• The Arbutus Corridor includes land granted to CP by the Provincial Crown and land purchased by CP from third parties

• In 1995, City Council approved the 1995 Greenways Plan which included the Arbutus Corridor as a future greenway to be called the Arbutus Way. Greenways were defined as “green paths” for pedestrians and cyclists that follow rivers, streets, beaches, railways, ridges and ravines. Their purpose is to expand the opportunities for urban recreation and to enhance the experience of nature and city life

• In July 2000, the City enacted the Arbutus Corridor Official Development Plan By-Law (ODP) that designated the corridor as a public thoroughfare for transportation and “greenways” like heritage walks, nature trails and cyclist paths

• In 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the City’s right to determine how land within Vancouver can be used. Since then, the Arbutus Corridor has been used without legal authority by the public as a walking and cycling route and home of multiple community gardens

• In October 2012, the Transportation 2040 Plan was adopted by Council and it maintained the objective to develop the Corridor as an area of focus to becoming an active transportation greenway, as well as future light rail for transit

• In 2013, the City included the Arbutus Corridor as a green transportation corridor in the City’s Regional Context Statement, approved by Council and the Metro Vancouver Board, and is now integrated into the provincially-approved Regional Growth Strategy

• From 2011-2014, City and CP negotiated over the sale of the Corridor with negotiations ending unsuccessfully in September 2014

• From November 2015 – January 2016, negotiations resume with CP with key terms for purchase set out in a non-binding MOU dated January 19, 2016

Community Gardens and trees:

• As part of the City’s Community Garden Program, there are approximately 350 permitted garden plots on City-owned land near the existing rail line. In the short term, there will be no changes impacting community gardens, however it is important that gardeners maintain their existing footprint and do not encroach onto neighbouring land including the rail corridor

• Permitted gardens are:
  • Arbutus Victory Gardens – Between 49th & 57th and 65th & 68th– 68 Plots
  • Kerrisdale Community Garden – 7599 Angus Dr – 30 plots
  • The World in a Garden – south of 57th & East Boulevard – 8 plots (communal gardening)
  • JFSA Community Garden – 57th & East Boulevard – ~46 plot (communal gardening)
  • Maple Community Garden – 1900 block of West 6th Ave – 44 plots
  • Cypress Community Garden – 1800 block of West 6th Ave – 69 plots
  • Pine Street Community Garden – 1600 block & 1700 block of West 6th Ave – 92 plots

• Over the next year, there will be some light construction along the line (i.e. the rail ties will be removed), so it is important to continue to respect the land boundaries confirmed with CP in 2014

• The Park Board took steps in March 2015 to save trees before the planned CP Rail reclamation of the old rail bed along the Arbutus Corridor began. Park Board crews relocated trees in good condition as determined by the City Arborist, most fruit trees, to existing parks and new homes today. The tree transplanting supports the Park Board’s Urban Forest Strategy, a key aim of which is to protect a healthy, mature tree canopy in Vancouver

• Workers first hand dug smaller trees with a shovel for donation toTreeKeepers, a non-profit organization that will find new homes for them. Larger trees were transplanted with a mechanical tree spade. The Park Board transplanted the majority of the larger trees to McCleery Golf Course greenway

The Vancouver Courier published pictures of the initial garden clearance which you can view here. While ongoing, the timeline for the removal of specific community gardens at other sites is unclear.

Our experience is captured in a blog article written before the community garden clearances started, and highlights the optimism the corridor provoked in many of us just over a week ago. Even now after over a week of clearances, parts of the central and northern parts of the corridor remain as we found it, but we have no idea for how much longer. Gardeners along the entire route are scrambling to mitigate the damage to gardens and orchards by removing what they can.

Meanwhile, the City of Vancouver and CP Rail seem to be at loggerheads over the possibility of a land sale. At this point, there appears to be a sizeable difference in the valuation of the land. As well, it can be expected that any discussions around the purchase of this railway line/greenspace will continue to have an added pre-election political dimension.

An industrial part of the Arbutus line – near Granville Island. Photo: Neal Jennings

The most striking and heartwarming sights were the lovingly kept community gardens, which on our August amble were sprouting ample crops of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The largest collection of community gardens were parallel to 6th Avenue, between 50th-57th, around 65th-68th, and to the south of Marine Drive [which was the area cleared by CP on Thursday 14th August 2014]. There were barbeques, greenhouses, water buckets, bee hives, planted toilets, and picnic benches, together highlighting decades of maintenance, improvement, care, and community growth.

One of the many community gardens along the Arbutus Corridor. Photo: Neal Jennings

There was also ample evidence of CP Railway’s threat to run freight trains on the corridor again, with warning signs on top of tall posts, and warning notices attached to individual plots at ground level. Most of the gardens were at a distance from the tracks, though some closer gardens had orange lines boldly sprayed over their green leaves and planting bags. There were also sprayed spots on sunken sleepers, and cut back brambles strewn across the way at the far south of the route, suggesting some initial surveying by CP had begun.

CP Rail’s orange spray paint line. Photo: Neal Jennings

However with many more overgrown brambles, some rotting rail sleepers, and partially cemented tracks at crossings, there would be a lot more maintenance needed before freight trains could return to these tracks. Without an obvious nearby industrial or commercial customer, it is also unclear how any maintenance investment could be financially viable for CP.

Similar investment would be required to accommodate a cycling and a walking trail accessible to everyone, not just hardy ambles like us who were undeterred by a fair number of shin scratches. At a minimum bramble and sleeper removal, and marked crosswalks for at least the busiest streets would be a required. Planting barren segments that were little more than parched roadside verges, could also add appeal, and some much needed shade too.

Walking the line. Photo: Neal Jennings

A notable tree lined section was as we wound our way along the ridge, between King Edward and 37th Avenues. Equally pleasant here was the almost unnoticeable incline of the trail, while steep cliffs emerged above, and panoramic views appeared below. In this particular section at least, it was easy to imagine cyclists being highly appreciative of these slight gradients, especially when considering existing routes. A walking and cycling route here could also connect Quilchena Park to Point Grey Secondary School and Kerrisdale Town Centre, so could be well used.

Along the ridge. Photo: Neal Jennings

The very same ridge would make a slower and windier transit route than the current Arbutus bus route, and the buses that did pass us on a summer Saturday were far from full. However in the long term, the City of Vancouver envisions light rail rapid transit returning to the corridor, for the first time since the 1950s when the interurban trams were discontinued. Today the proliferation of multimillion dollar single family homes lining the route, suggests there will not be a high enough population density to support such a transit route any time soon.

A community garden and neighbourhood gathering space. Photo: Neal Jennings

Perhaps one day this diverse corridor can serve a single purpose again, whether as a freight or transit corridor, or a walking and cycling trail. In the mean time it seems people and communities will continue to make the corridor work for them, dividing it up into a patchwork of uses that already makes for an enjoyable urban hike. On our amble we saw gardeners, sun worshipers, berry pickers, joggers, families and young children cycling, all enjoying a succession of enheralded public spaces. Ideally it would be great to see these activities continue, and further encouraged, while also improving access for a greater number of people too.

Scarecrow and eviction notice. Photo: Neal Jennings

We live in a small space just shy of 700 sq feet for the three of us so we spend a lot of time out of the home as a necessity. Adjacent to our new home are the abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway rail tracks along West 6th Avenue. Much of the corridor nearby has been transformed into vibrant gardens where hundreds of people stroll through and enjoy with their friends or pets each day.

Arbutus Corridor photo by adamdoneill

Unfortunately, there weren’t any available spaces in the existing gardens close by for us to jump in and get gardening. High in demand and with limited space, this growing and increasingly densifying neighbourhood has few options for fellow apartment dwellers to get a little dirty and try to grow their own food. On my frequent walks down the tracks, I met some like minded folks in the neighbourhood and we quickly transformed a piece of the blackberry, weed choked and garbage strewn land that remained into one of the city’s first community orchards. Over the next several years we literally built community through the continued development of our community garden space.

Arbutus Corridor photo by adamdoneill

It’s been a remarkable experiment in local social capital development as people have shared their garden ideas, lessons and experience and offered others a chance to try their luck at gardening. In our particular garden we have a diverse group of folks, which keeps it interesting and accessible. There is now a varied group of people who contribute to maintaining the lands as an attractive and welcoming community amenity. Local service groups use some of the garden space for therapy or skills development. These service groups offer members with mental health issues a chance to garden with other community members, or teach others to grow herbs for cooking classes. I’ve met grandparents who bring their grandchildren to the garden to pass on their garden knowledge in Italian or Cantonese, new parents who show their toddlers where their food comes from and students having fun with their first garden experience.

Pretty much every visit I make to the garden I am reminded on how fortunate we are to have such a place when people passing by comment on how much they appreciate the gardens.

Canadian Pacific Railway has recently posted notices and no trespassing signs next to the gardens. The Railway claims they are considering “regular rail operations” on the overgrown and rotten rail tracks. The railway wants us (and you) to stay off the abandoned property and remove the verdant trees, shrubs and flowers by July 31st, 2014. It is hard to conceive that there is any viable place to transport goods along this corridor. We’re also a little surprised that after 14 years of no activity or sign of rail work that Canadian Pacific Railway needs to resume in the middle of the summer with the gardens in full bloom.

Arbutus Corridor photo by adamdoneill

Garden Gathering on July 26

There will be a gathering on Saturday, July 26th/2014 (11-5) in the gardens along the tracks between Fir and Maple. Local gardeners will be offering tours and speaking about their gardens; some of who have been gardening here close to 25 years. This may be your last chance to enjoy this much loved community space.

What you can do

If you like what you see I encourage you to write to both Canadian Pacific Railway and Vancouver City Council to preserve this important community space.

- Adam Vasilevich, VPSN Member and Gardener

—-

Also, on August 9

VPSN is planning on hosting an ‘communal cross-town stroll’ along the entire route, from Granville Island to Marpole, to enjoy the beautiful gardens and pocket greenspaces that have been nurtured next to the tracks, and to explore the diversity of verdant neighbourhoods that the Arbutus Corridor passes through. We’ll also be on the look-out for what changes CP has made to the gardens since the July 31 deadline. Stay tuned for more details on this important corridor in the Arbutus neighbourhood.