The City has initiated a redesign process for the space, and recently held a series of drop-in events to share draft concepts.

Blood Alley Redesign – Concept 1 (City of Vancouver)

Blood Alley Redesign – Concept #2 (City of Vancouver)

We wrote a letter to the planning team working on the project to share our thoughts. Here’s an excerpt of what we had to say:

…We’ve had a chance to participate in the City’s online and in-person engagement activities, but wished to follow-up with a letter outlining some observations that we hope may be of use. We offer these in the spirit of constructive critique, and because we want the design effort behind the revitalization of this space to be as strong as possible.

First, we’d like to start by reiterating that we are broadly supportive of the overall intent to refresh this important public space, and noted this in earlier correspondence to the City supporting the DTES Local Area Planning Process (LAPP). Blood Alley Square is a key gathering space in a neighbourhood that has a shortage of these sorts of places.

With that in mind, we feel it important to note that Blood Alley Square is also a space where design has the potential to deliver a powerful message about how Vancouver will address equity and inclusion, given the extreme proximity of significant and conspicuous wealth and serious poverty. As you know, issues of income polarization are becoming all too characteristic of the city as a whole, but they are particularly acute in this area – located as it is at the intersection of historic Gastown and the Downtown Eastside.

While we appreciate that heritage, trees and waste management are important issues, we are concerned that they were defined as the key phase one design considerations for the renewal of the Square, while social context and social heritage are to be considered at a later stage. It’s unclear to us why these considerations would be separated and sequenced in this fashion given that public spaces are fundamentally people places. Stated another way, we suggest that the functions of public life, community stewardship, and the social use of these spaces by a diversity of community members, should be prioritized before those of heritage, waste removal and the like.

Our hope for this stage of the design process would be to see the options strengthened through stronger input from the local community. We are concerned that the present concepts (showcasing two options for the site) lack vitality. We attribute some this from the preliminary nature of the designs. Other aspects may come from the fact that the redesign of the space is now preceding the redevelopment of the buildings that catalyzed this initiative. In our opinion, though, it is also almost certain that the concepts have been challenged because they do not adequately reflect a richer sense of aspirations for public life and social use found within the broader of a diverse DTES/Gastown community. The relative absence of these inputs seems to neutralize many aspects of the the two design concepts – rendering them strangely ‘flat,’ Overall, we feel the design concepts simply do not do justice to Blood Alley’s potential for flexibility as a public space, nor the significance of the site for its various user groups.

While we commend the City for holding several drop-in events and surveys, we are concerned that participation in the process to date may not have adequately involved members of many of the Downtown Eastside’s more vulnerable communities. (For example, the consultation report notes a relatively limited amount of input from area renters; while input from local First Nations – given the significance of this part of Gastown – is unreferenced). The DTES is, in addition to being the home of marginalized communities, inherently diverse, something that should be recognized in public engagement activities.

We appreciate that the City highlighted the enabling policy found in sections 12.3.5, 12.3.4 12.3.3 of the Downtown Eastside Plan (2014) in these redevelopment efforts. These provisions outline the importance of inclusive and community-led programming and stewardship for public spaces in the neighbourhood. The VPSN feels that these goals should provide the redevelopment a driving and defining narrative, while still addressing heritage and waste management concerns.

Blood Alley is a space of major social, cultural and historical value to a diversity of Vancouverites. Its redesign is not just an important moment in our city’s history – it also has the potential to set an example for design and consultation in areas where stakeholders are rich in difference. Let’s both acknowledge this and treat it as such.

UPDATE: A few days after we wrote this letter, we received a reply from the City thanking us for the input. The email went on to note:

As you mentioned, the redesign of Blood Alley Square is directed by the Downtown Eastside Plan. Policy 6.2.2 states the intent of the redesign, which is “to rehabilitate Blood Alley Square and Trounce Alley, to improve the public realm, increase safety and introduce programming, with support for community stewardship as a shared space, including opportunities for the low-income community.” This policy, and the nine social impact objectives in the DTES Plan (page 11 of the Plan here) will continue to guide the project.

In addition to on-going engagement with local residents and community groups, I want to update you that our consultants are organizing a workshop with local groups to specifically discuss the Stewardship Strategy. The strategy will look for opportunities for local groups/residents/artists to be involved in the programming and on-going stewardship of the square. The opportunities to create employment for the maintenance and cleaning of the square is also a topic we will discuss.

This is an encouraging response. We’ll be following the issue to see what happens next.

by Jonathan Bleackley

While to many people, Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside invokes a particular narrative, the area has been many things through its history: Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood and main street, its entertainment district, an extension of Chinatown, an entry point for new immigrants, a place to go out on the town in the big city for resource workers coming in from remote bush camps, and a site of activism, and political and social awakening. It is this diverse and complex history which the Hastings Crossing BIA (HxBIA) is unearthing and promoting through their Living History Project, an ongoing project to create several short documentaries celebrating the lesser-known histories of the area.

The first of these documentaries, currently under production, focuses on the historic Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret, a supper club turned punk dive that operated from the 1950s to the early 1980s and whose history reflects many of the changes, issues and challenges the neighbourhood and Vancouver at large were going through in those decades. The HxBIA is currently running an Indiegogo campaign to fund the final stages of this documentary and provide seed money for the next round. I had a chance to sit down with Wes Regan, Executive Director of HxBIA, to discuss the project and how it fit within the organization’s broader mandate.

Social Enterprise Values & BIAs

While HxBIA conducts many of the same activities as a traditional BIA, such as promoting neighbourhood merchants, negotiating with the city on their behalf and carrying out street maintenance and beautification projects, it seeks to do so through the values of social enterprise – infusing broader environmental and social goals, as well as transparency and community engagement, into the BIA model. At the forefront of this practice is acknowledging the impact that BIA policies and undertakings have on the existing communities and asking how those policies can be used to improve the lives of local residents, such as through providing employment opportunities or by democratizing discussions about the the local economy.

Increasingly, BIAs have adopted the role of placemaker; branding neighbourhoods, not only through banners and advertising, but through promoting a distinct and unified identity for the neighbourhood. Critics of this process argue that these identities are often more marketing than a reflection of reality; an image of what some business owners want the neighbourhood to be percieved as – safe, hip, charming, homogenous, depoliticized – rather than the messy realities of race, economics, politics and activism which creates actual history. The Living History Project is a concerted effort to shift this discussion by unpacking the identity of the DTES through it’s history in order to understand how the neighbourhood has gotten to where it is and to begin a discussion about how that history informs where it will go in the future.

The History: Supper Club & Punk 

HxBIA chose the Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret as the first topic in the project because the history of the club reflects many of the issues, forces and communities that have been active in the neighbourhood over the past 60 years. Starting as a supper and dance club in the early 50s and appealing to blue collar and working classes, the club also played a role in the culture of Chinatown and, in the 60s, became part of the touring circle for psychedlic and 60s rock bands. Rumours still persist over whether Hendrix played there or not, even unofficially. By the 70s and 80s, the club had transformed again as an incubator and gathering space for the local punk scene. Punks bands such as DOA, Subhumans, and Young Canadians all got their start there. The rocker and activist Joey “Shithead” Keithley of DOA was interviewed for the documentary, as were members of the band 54-40, who got their start in the club and later recovered its famous neon sign from the trash heap. Finally, after being neglected for over a decade, the club has been reinvented again, as the SBC Restaurant, an indoor skatepark and restaurant. emphasizing local and accessible food.

Wes recalled an early event from the project where photos from the club’s punk heyday were put on display. Members of the public reminsced on the role of the venue not only in supporting music and the arts, but also the social connection in the early Vancouver punk scene, as well as the DIY asthetics and social consciousness of those involved. It was this idea – of how much public life so often actualy happens in private spaces, be they night clubs, coffeeshops or restaurants – which Wes saw some members of the HxBIA grapple with on daily basis. The area the BIA represents, situated just south of Gastown, has been experiencing dramatic changes over the last decade. New businesses and development have come into the neighbourhood, rents have risen dramatically and the gentrification vs revitalization debate has roared. At the same time, issues of poverty, drug use, mental health and stigmatization persist. Businesses in the area, most of which are small and locally owned, many of which desire to provide a space for community and to meet the needs of local residents, have struggled with how to balance the business requirments and the realities of the market with the desire to promote spaces where people can meet, hang out and form communities. The Living History Project celebrates the ability of the Smilin’ Buddha, and other, now forgotten, clubs, cafes and restaurants to negotiate the line between being a business and being an impromptu living room for various communities and reminds us of the need to protect and support local businesses, not only for economic reasons, but also for the important role they can play as cultural spaces.

Looking Ahead

When asked what was next for the Living History project, Wes said that HxBIA was exploring a variety of options, but that there seems to be interest in recording the history of the loggers, longshore and other resource workers in the neighbourhood. These groups drove and influenced the creation of the city and much of their legacy, in the form of SROs, a sizeable concentration of bars and history of labour and social activism, still persists in the DTES.

Besides helping to document an important time in Vancouver’s history, the Indiegogo campaign features impressive perks, ranging from dinner at local restaurants to a chance to skate SBC with rapper Moka Only or to get a guitar signed by Joey Shithead of DOA.

March 23-24 mark the City of Vancouver’s Annual Homeless Count in Metro Vancouver, though awareness and action is needed beyond these two days of important data collection.

As an ongoing initiative since 2010, the City of Vancouver has been conducting an annual count to help estimate the number of homeless, obtain an accurate demographic profile of the population, and to help identify common trends compared to previous years. The most recent data collected was the 2014 Homeless Count in the Metro Vancouver Region, conducted by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness (RSCH) every three years – an initiative supported by Metro Vancouver, Government of Canada, City of Vancouver, Vancouver Foundation, Real Estate Foundation, Surrey Homeless & Housing Society, and Translink. The data collected from these counts assists government bodies and organizations with policy development, planning, prioritizing programs and services to address the needs of the people.

This year will be particularly important in addressing the current status on housing and homelessness in the city. Back in 2008, Mayor Gregor Robertson and Council had pledged to end street homelessness by 2015, and increase affordable housing choices for all Vancouverites. According to the most recent count results, the city’s overall homeless population, both ‘visibly’ and ‘invisibly’ homeless, has increased since the original promise had been made.

In 2011, 2012, and 2013, Mayor Robertson’s initiatives had placed a greater number of homeless inside shelters and off the streets, however, the effects did not last for long. Data collected from the 2014 count indicated that homelessness has reached an all-time high, and brings into question the efficacy of Mayor Robertson’s initiatives.

Housing and homelessness are two issues that go hand-in-hand in Vancouver. The City of Vancouver initiated their Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2012-2021 as an initiative to end homelessness and increase affordable housing choices for all residents of the city. This includes investing in more accessible, affordable and sustainable housing for seniors, families and disabilities – regardless of their income level. Homelessness can range from living on the streets to struggling with inadequate or unaffordable housing, making it deeper than a one-dimensional issue.

Most homeless counts underestimate the number of people who are “homeless” defined as those who do not have a place of their own, where they could expect to stay in for more than 30 days. Many homeless choose to live in public spaces, which are an essential component to their daily lives. Public spaces provide a place to sit, sleep, eat, socialize, live and feel safe around others.

Homelessness can go beyond living on the street, including those who have no physical shelter, temporary residence in emergency shelters, or have no fixed address and live in someone else’s home, at a hospital, jail or detox facility. Hence, it is important to remind ourselves that homelessness is always larger than the numbers presented on the page.

A version of this article originally appeared on Spacing.

From street hawkers to pop-up parks, from the New York High Line to Barcelona’s La Boqueria, urban acupuncture materializes in many different ways. Its principle, however, remains static in that it is seeks to re-energize communities through small-scale design innovation.

An antidote to more often prioritized, top-down, infrastructural change, urban acupuncture explores bottom-up, grassroots design that is both low-cost and low-impact. Requiring a detailed understanding of the communities it seeks to improve, planners are encouraged to identify gaps in services and potential connection points, all while remaining sensitive to the identity and needs of the neigbourhood.

In many ways, it is a more “philosophical approach to urban planning.”

“Sometimes just one stroke of creativity is acupuncture powerful enough to make progress,” states Jaime Lerner, a global proponent of the movement whose belief in urban acupuncture largely guided the city planning of Curitiba, Brazil in the ’70s and ‘80s.

This creativity serves as an opposing force to “industrious mediocrity” brought with rapid, homogenous development. Above all, however, it lends legitimacy to public spaces by encouraging increased use, and fosters understanding between city-dwellers in its desire to connect residents and blur the boundaries between work, play, and living.

Examples of urban acupuncture have spread across Vancouver in recent years, from City Studio’s “Keys to the Streets” campaign, to the creation of the “Robson Redux.” Both have successfully enhanced existing public space, encouraging greater use by and interaction between residents.

Traditionally, vulnerable communities have most benefited from urban acupuncture initiatives, Lerner’s Curitiba serving as a prime example. During his tenure as mayor, a severe gap in the provision of utilities was identified in the city’s surrounding slums. Believing that the perception of the problem was far greater than its reality, Lerner devised a way of threading electrical cables and water pipes along the handrails bordering the steep staircases of the favelas.

Charging nominal fees for use, residents of this part of the city found their day-to-day life quite improved, while the initiative’s planning and implementation provided the favelas, often overlooked by planners, a sense of legitimacy. Investments in time, planning and resources imbue neighbourhoods with a sense of pride, particularly when done through bottoms-up design. Often, projects encourage city-dwellers from elsewhere to visit and utilize newly revitalized public spaces, forging connection between those of disparate backgrounds and resources.

In Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, a neighbourhood often identified by its homeless population and drug abuse, this type of encouraged connection is invaluable. It discourages community outsiders from using labels such as “addict” to homogenize residents, instead allowing insight into the diversity and vivacity of the neighbourhood.

A fixture on Carrall Street since 2010, the Sunday Downtown Eastside Street Market is exemplary of urban acupuncture, providing such connections. Its recent application to move to a permanent location promises to increase its positive impact. An example of local entrepreneurship, the market allows as many as 200 vendors from the DTES to sell salvaged goods, which would otherwise be fodder for the landfill. Organized by a small group of volunteers and funded by the City of Vancouver, a concerted effort is made to ensure that the market is run efficiently, and that its integrity is not compromised by the presence of stolen goods.

It is, in many ways, an open-air thrift store.

Vendors, who are able to sell for free and avoid the purchase of an $800 street vending license, use the income to supplement social assistance. For many, the market supports the right of residents to work, while also recycling income back into the local economy.

Having applied to relocate to 58 West Hastings, the promise of a permanent home is an alluring prospect for the market. “By legitimizing and organizing activity that already takes place, the community shows that it is open to creating a better neighbourhood, and provides a way to keep the same neighbours without displacement of the low income population,” reads the DTES Street Market Operation Plan. The hope is to eventually increase the frequency of the market, an interest supported by many street vendors and community members.

With permanence, increased frequency and legitimacy, the market’s success as an instance of urban acupuncture will no doubt grow. Providing methods for connection between marginalized individuals and other Vancouverites, suffusing the local economy with income, and legitimizing the needs of the DTES through support from the City, will no doubt make the market a shining example of grassroots urban design.

On Monday, March 31, the Park Board meeting will be looking at lease extensions for Prospect Point Café and Stanley Pavillion, hearing a presentation on the Stanley Park Cherry Grove Memorial, and considering a proposal for a new community garden at Kingcrest Park, located in the Cedar Cottage neighbourhood. The proposed Kingcrest Community Garden will have 20 allotment spaces, demonstration and pollinator gardens.

Speaking of bees, Park Board Commissioners will have the chance to debate a motion on “The Pollinator Project” – which, if passed, would direct staff to “develop strategies for supporting pollinators in priority Vancouver parks and streets as part of the Biodiversity Strategy and Urban Forest Strategy.”

Also in the meeting, a report on the upcoming 2014 Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale – and a proposal to keep works from the current Biennale in place throughout the duration of upcoming festival. The installations in question are Dennis Oppenheim’s “Engagement”, located in English Bay; Bernar Venet’s “217.5 Arcs” at Sunset Beach; and, Freezing Water #7 by Ren Jun, located at Vanier Park)

There are two other motions on the docket as well. The first relates to the scaling back of Canada Post service delivery. If passed, it would direct the Park Board Chair to “write a letter to the Mayor indicating the Park Board’s concerns with Canada Post’s plan.” The second item will be familiar to friends of VPSN, and is a complementary motion to City Council’s recent move to develop a strategy of no net loss of greenspace.

On April 1, 2014, City Council will be meeting for both a regular session of Council as well as a Public Hearing.

On the morning Council agenda, one item of note for the democratic dimensions of public space: a motion regarding the Federal Bill C-23, So-Called “Fair Elections Act.” If passed, the motion would direct the City (presumably the Mayor) to “write a letter to Vancouver Members of Parliament, the Minister of Democratic Reform and the Prime Minister stating opposition to Bill C-23.”

The afternoon’s Public Hearing is devoted to proposed bylaw changes coming out of the recently passed Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan. Under consideration are amendments to the Downtown Official Development Plan, the Downtown Eastside

Oppenheimer Official Development Plan and the Single Room Accommodation By-law, as well as various sections of the Zoning and Development By-law.

Next day, Tuesday, April 2, 2014, there’s a full agenda for the Planning, Transportation and Environment meeting of Council.

First up, a presentation and discussion on the Mayor’s Engaged City Task Force, and the final report and recommendations that emerged from their work. The VPSN wrote to Council in response to the Task Force’s earlier “Quick Start” report, and will be providing commentary on the final document as well. Stay tuned for that!

Next up, a series of reports on City grants for both Community Services (including neighbourhood houses, service agencies and other groups) and arts and culture organizations. If approved, the City will be investing approximately $6.5 million in operating, capital, project, childcare and rent subsidy grants for over 130 service agencies, as well as an additional $7.5 million in operating and project grants for arts and culture groups.

And to round things out, Council will be considering the Marpole Community Plan – the third of four current neighbourhood-scale planning initiatives. Like the recently passed West End and Downtown Eastside plans, this was also initiated in 2012. There are specific chapters on a number of public space items – streetscapes, parks and open space, public benefits, and more. The VPSN is currently reviewing this document and will be providing commentary to City Council in advance of the meeting. Check back on the blog to read our feedback!

Want to speak to any of these items? To find out how you can share your feedback with Council or Park Board – in person, or in writing – visit the City’s Council webpage.

On Monday, March 10, the first public hearing will consider three projects, including the proposed Oakridge Centre rezoning and development. There’s a lot to be discussed on this latter item – higher buildings, new park and plaza space, and key transportation considerations – and it promises to be a lively debate. (Some of the public correspondence is already on-line, and in case you missed it, we outlined some of the public space-specific considerations in a blog post on February 19.)

The following day, Tuesday, March 11, the regular sitting of Council sees a full suite of items.

Curious about how much Mayor and Council took home as pay this year? The 2013 Council Remuneration and Expenses report details salaries, travel and other expenses.

Following that, there’s a number of Motions being proposed in the meeting, including:

• Protecting Vancouver’s Public Green Space – which, if passed, would direct City staff to develop a policy of no net loss of public green space. Interestingly, this idea was proposed by former Park Commissioner Spencer Herbert (now an MLA) back in 2007. It didn’t pass back then, so it will be interesting to see how the discussion goes this time around. (The VPSN wrote in support of the motion back in ’07 and plan to offer our support this time as well). We’ll share more on this item in a few days time.

• Develop an Art Cart Programme – a motion aimed at expanding street vending opportunities for locally made arts and crafts.

• Traffic Safety and Increased Traffic Volume – 4th Avenue West of Macdonald – The Pt. Grey Road active transportation corridor has created some changes in local traffic patterns. While the City is monitoring these impacts, there are reports in some corners that southbound left-turns onto 4th Avenue are becoming more challenging. This motion looks at the possibility of installing traffic signals to respond to these concerns. (Of interest to sustainable transportation enthusiasts: it’s proposed that funding for these signals be “found within found within the up to $6.0 million budget previously approved by Council for Phase 1 of the completion of the Seaside Greenway and creation of the York Bikeway.”)

• Proposed Service Cuts on TransLink Bus Route 49 UBC/Metrotown Station – as part a program of “service optimization,” TransLink is considering changes to the 49 UBC/Metrotown Station bus. This would eliminate key transit service to Champlain Heights, “a community which includes a high proportion of seniors, young families and people with disabilities who rely on transit service to work, go to school and complete essential daily tasks.” The proposed Council motion would direct staff to advise TransLink that the City “opposes any reduction of service” on this route.

Lastly (at least for our update), Wednesday, March 12 features a key City Finance and Service and Services Committee meeting – one which will see Council deliberate over the Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan, an ambitious neighbourhood-scale policy document that will set out land-use directions, social and cultural policy, and public realm considerations for the next few decades. The VPSN is currently reviewing this document and will be presenting our take on it very shortly.

Interested in letting Council know your thoughts on any of these items? Follow this link to find out how you can have your say (either in person, or via letter/email).

On March 12 2014 the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Plan is going before council. The plan sets broad policy goals for this complex and fascinating community that spans from the heritage communities of Gastown, Victory Square, Chinatown and Japantown, to the industrial spaces of Clark Dr and shady streets of Strathcona and Kiwassa, for the next 30 years.

Now is the time to read the draft plan and share your thoughts!

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Register to speak at Council on March 12; write an email to mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca
• Attend the VPSN’s DTES plan review session at 7pm, March 4 2014.
  For details of this event please email stewart@vancouverpublicspace.ca

At this informal session we propose to discuss the impacts of the plan on public spaces in the DTES. Following this session we will draft a brief position statement and provide speaking points to any that may be interested in standing up on March 12 on behalf of public spaces in the DTES.

Please come prepared to discuss the public space aspects of the plan. Note this is not an ‘official’ city consultation event. If you cannot make this event we welcome your comments for inclusion in our work by email.

Further reading:

• City of Vancouver Official DTES local area plan (2014)
• DTES Local Area Area Profile (2013)
• A short history of the DTES (2005)
• Carnegie Community Action Project (summary position)
• Strathcona Business Improvement Association (summary position)

Vancouver City Hall – Photo by Ken Stewart

A full slate of meetings at City Council and the Park Board this week – with lots to keep public space aficionados busy.

In this edition:

• Parks – New Festival, Food Carts, User Fees and Park Naming
• Neighbourhood Planning – Grandview-Woodland, Marpole, West End, Downtown Eastside
• Elections & Finances – Eight Candidates in Trouble
• Riot Review and This Year’s Stanley Cup
• Rezonings – Marine Gateway, The Rize, 1^st & Victoria, Howe & Drake… and others

Parks Board – New Festival, Food Carts, User Fees and Park Naming

Monday starts with a Parks Board meeting that will consider, among other things, the possibility of a new Sarah McLaughlin led festival in Stanley Park called “Voices in the Park,” the expansion of the city’s food carts program (with new seasonal carts proposed for a number of parks), a report on user fees and charges (most fees will stay the same, but modest increases are proposed for VanDusen and a few other facilities), and a new policy for naming parks.

The naming policy calls for “more public engagement, more flexibility, and more efficiency” and proposes that park names be evaluated “by considering historical, cultural and geographic elements.”

Neighbourhood Planning – Grandview-Woodland, Marpole, West End, Downtown Eastside

The City is about to embark on four new neighbourhood planning exercises. In Marpole, Grandview-Woodland and the West End the new plans will replace older Local Area plans that date back to the 1970s and 80s. These plans will pull together an array of themes – housing, transportation, parks and public realm, heritage, culture, etc – taking city-wide policy and scaling it down to the neighbourhood level.

In the Downtown Eastside, the neighbourhood will be getting a comprehensive plan that looks at neighbourhood change, the social impact of development pressure and opportunity to improve the lives of residents in the area.

The four planning exercises are intended to be broadly collaborative in nature and will feature a number of opportunities for community participation. Reports on these respective planning processes are in front of Council this week in two separate meetings – with the DTES plan on Tuesday’s City Finance and Services agenda, and the other three neighbourhoods on deck at Wednesday’s Planning, Transportation and Environment meeting.

Elections & Finances – Eight Candidates in Trouble

All candidates who ran for Mayor, Council, Parks Board or School Board were required to file Campaign Finance statements by March 19. Not all of them did – and now stand to get dinged with a $500 fee unless they’re able to apply to the Supreme Court (!) for relief. Most of the eight that are named in the staff report ran as independents. One of them even won an election debate. The matter will be before Council on Tuesday.

Riot Review and This Year’s Stanley Cup

Later on Tuesday, at the City Finance and Services meeting, City Manager Penny Ballem will be giving a presentation on the Stanley Cup Riot Review, along with an overview of planning for this year’s possible playoff celebrations.

Rezonings – Marine Gateway, The Rize, 1^st & Victoria, Howe & Drake… and others

Monday sees the first of a number of rezoning discussions take place at City Council. Architect James Cheng’s Marine Landing proposal (Cambie and SW Marine) is third on the agenda. The proposal calls for a mixed-use development consisting of two towers (31 and 24 storeys respectively) containing market and rental housing, ground-level retail, and two at-grade artists studios. Public realm enhancement along Cambie is part of the discussion. Additional public benefits have been secured through Development Cost Levies ($2m) and for public art (approximately $700K), and further community amenity contribution (CAC) of $5m is included in the proposal.

Later in the week, on Thursday, an earlier public hearing is being reconvened to hear input on a number of items, including the proposed rezoning associated with The Rize development at Kingsway and Broadway. The speakers list for this one is l-o-o-n-g and the proposal has become something of a controversy in the neighbourhood. Read our earlier post on the subject for more details.

Two other rezoning-related items appear in the docket this week. At Tuesday’s regular Council meeting applications related to proposed developments at East 1^st & Victoria (supportive housing) and Howe & Drake (a 41-storey tower) will be considered. Council will be reviewing the proposals and deciding whether or not they should be referred to public hearing.

Get Involved

To find out how you can register to speak on any of these items, check out the City Clerk’s “Speaking to Council” webpage. If you want to present on a Park Board item be sure to visit the Board webpage for details.

• Friday, September 17 – Park(ing) Day
• Friday, October 1 – Greenest City Idea Slam (w/Image Contest & Design Jam)

VPSN MEETINGS & PROJECTS

• Wednesday, October 6 – Volunteer Orientation Meeting
• Monday, September 27 – Billboards & Corporatization Brainstorm
• Monday, September 27 – Halloween Transit Party Planning Meeting

ENGAGE: PUBLIC CONSULTATION OPPORTUNITIES

• Hornby Bike Lane Consultation

PUBLIC SPACE EVENTS

• Saturday, September 25 – Liveable Laneways Festival
• Wednesday, September 29 – Showcasing Urban Environmental Health Inequity
• October 4-7 – Gaining Ground Summit

VPSN PUBLIC SPACE FEATURE EVENTS

Friday, September 17 – PARK(ing) Day

It’s almost here! Join us for PARK(ing) Day this Friday as we transform two parking spots into temporary parks for the public good. Drop by and say hi or stick around and be part of the action!

For the third year running, the Vancouver Public Space Network will be participating in PARK(ing) Day – a global adventure that sees parking spaces transformed into public space playgrounds for young and old. Sound awesome? It is! This year, weather permitting, we will have locations active in the West End and at City Hall:

1. West End – 1218 Davie Street (SW Corner @ Bute). 9:30am – 5:00pm;
2. City Hall Councillors Parking (N side), 454 West 12th Ave. 11:30am – 2:00pm

:: More information – Simon Wong simon [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca
:: Join the Facebook Event Page to stay up-to-date

Friday, October 1 – Greenest City Idea Slam

We’re very pleased to announce our latest collaboration with the City of Vancouver and Simon Fraser University. The following is an excerpt from the official press release.

Green Ideas Sought for Vancouver’s Future; Top ideas chosen for panel review with CBC Radio’s Bill Richardson and Mayor Robertson

Building on the success of the “Talk Green to Us” campaign, the public is invited to participate in the on-line forum www.talkgreentous.ca to share ideas they want to put into action to help Vancouver become the greenest city. The public can also visit the forum to vote on their favourite ideas.

The most innovative and creative ideas with the most votes will be selected to be pitched to, and receive feedback from, a prestigious panel of experts facilitated by Mayor Gregor Robertson and Bill Richardson, host of CBC Radio’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and In Concert programs….

Hosted by the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Public Space Network and the Simon Fraser University (SFU) City Program, the panel event will take place at the SFU Woodward’s Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre. Poet laureate Brad Cran and musician Veda Hille will be providing entertainment while Jaime Kowal and Ryan Tomkinson will share art and photography… The public are encouraged to attend but must register for the event as space is limited: http://websurvey.sfu.ca/survey/64166248.

:: To see the complete press release check out the VPSN blog

Call for Artists and Creatives – Illustrate Our Transformation Into the Greenest City

Are you an aspiring artist, designer or photographer? The good folks at Green the City will be presenting a variety slide show of “Green City” themes as part of the aforementioned Oct 1 Greenest City event. They’ve got a call out for some artistic expertise and are looking for images that riff off of the theme “Where have we come from and where are we going?” Share your images and visual creations (archival mash-ups, conceptual renderings, photoshop madness… documenting Vancouver’s green past, present and future).

It’s easy to participate. Check out this month’s assignment below, and submit your images and artwork to www.greenthecityvancouver.com. The top-notch work that you submit will be broadcast live as part of the event!

:: To send in your work – submit [at] greenthecityvancouver.com

Design Nerds – Greenest City Jam

One final Greenest City gig that you ought to know about. Our good friends at the Vancouver Design Nerds will be hosting one of their ever popular Design Jam sessions this Friday (Sept 17). The goal of the evening will be to capture 20 Greenest City ideas, either new ones or improvements on existing ones on the talkgreentous.ca website. All ideas will be posted to the website by end of night. We’ll then ask you all to use your social networking powers to vote on your favourite ideas. Takes place 630-10pm at Recollective, 5 West Pender (Buzz 109)

:: More info – Design Nerds Facebook Event Page

VPSN PUBLIC SPACE PROJECTS

Monday, September 27 – Billboards & Public Space Corporatization

Our Corporatization Working Group is convening a meeting to brainstorm issues around the corporatization of public space – that is, the presence of billboards and outdoor signage, corporate branding and forms of privatization affecting Vancouver’s public realm. We’ll be preparing a discussion paper on the subject and we invite you to help us to think through the issues. The meeting takes place Monday the 27th of September at 6:30 pm. Location TBD.

:: For more information – stephanie [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca

Monday, September 27 – Halloween Transit Party Planning

The Public Transit Working Group will be meeting on Sep 27 and are looking for volunteers interested in helping us with our annual Halloween transit party. You remember that, don’t you? Crazy costumes, awesome tunes, lively transformation the region’s transit infrastructure? It’s coming again. Oh yeah. Meeting location TBD.

:: For further details – quinn [at] vancouverpublicspace.ca

Wednesday, October 6 – Volunteer Orientation Meeting

Join us for our monthly volunteer orientation and learn about opportunities to make Vancouver great! Session takes place at 630pm in Room 3047, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings. Please RSVP.

:: More information or to RSVP – erin at vancouverpublicspace.ca

ENGAGE – PUBLIC CONSULTATION OPPORTUNITIES

Hornby Bike Lane Consultation

We believe that Hornby street is a crucial link in creating a substantive and comprehensive bicycle lane network that will increase ridership and safety and will provide benefits for residents and businesses alike. Not everyone agrees. Either way, this is a good chance for you to sound off on your feelings about the City’s transportation directions.

:: Have something to add? Email mayorandcouncil (at) vancouver.ca
:: City of Vancouver – Bike Vancouver webpage

PUBLIC SPACE EVENTS

Saturday, September 25 – Liveable Laneways Festival

Celebrate the transformation of a neighbourhood laneway into a cool space. This event showcases some excellent placemaking work being done in Mt. Pleasant. Meet at 8th and the Lane (just west of Main Street). With music, markets, a BBQ and more. in the laneway between Main and Quebec, from Broadway north to 7th Ave.)

While you’re there – stop by and say hi! The VPSN’s mapping team will be there gathering information for our community Green Map.

:: More information – Liveable Laneways Facebook Page

Wednesday, September 29 – Showcasing Urban Environmental Health Inequity: Insights from Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Toronto

You are invited to attend an animated final reporting on the community-based research DTES residents have completed since 2008 when a team of researchers from UBC partnered with the DTES Neighbourhood House and other local organizations.

Research focuses on understanding environmental health inequities in the city – with work going to support efforts to create a more “just” city. Takes place 1:00-5:00pm at the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, 573 East Hastings @ Princess.

:: More Info/RSVP – Email Rebecca Haber – rhaber [at] interchange.ubc.ca

October 4-7 – Gaining Ground Summit: The Power of Green Cities to Shape the Future

The Gaining Ground conference will have a whole range of interesting workshops and side programs connected with the future of urban spaces. Check out the program here.

We’d also like to draw your attention to a couple of interesting looking sessions
:

“Walking the Talk-the Footprint for Active Transportation” – Workshop and Learning Lab (October 4 8:00am-3:30)

As part of the preconference offerings of the Gaining Grounds conference, Walk21 in association with Green Communities Canada is presenting a one day workshop at Simon Fraser University. Join local leaders, decision makers and leading global experts on walking environments and walkability in a full- day workshop exploring this foundation of Active Transportation. This exciting day consists of a working breakfast session with professional training on walking environments, followed by an on street hands-on walking audit, analysis, and in- depth discussion. Learn innovative best practices that can be used by you to make communities more walkable.
This session will be led by Dr. Rodney Tolley from Walk21, Jacky Kennedy from Green Communities Canada, and Paul Young, with Public Space Workshop. This workshop and learning lab is $75.00 for the full day, inclusive of breakfast and bagged lunch.

To register – http://www.gaininggroundsummit.com/shoulder_program.htm

Public Lecture on Walkability (October 4)

There will be a free public lecture at 6:00 to 8:00 at SFU on walking and walkability led by Paul Young.

Healing Cities (October 7)

Healing Cities is a part of the larger “Gaining Ground” summit. Register now for an opportunity to explore how cities can be healed, and also be healing places for all of us to inhabit. This exciting and integrative conference will bring together planners, developers, architects, engineers, transportation professionals, massage therapists, physicians, counsellors, energy healers, spiritual leaders, and you! This day of conference will help us learn and explore new ways to approach the task of healing cities. We certainly don’t have all the answers or even all the questions, and we need your input.

:: For more information: Gaining Ground Website

With the Olympic Games in full swing, we’ve been getting a lot of requests for the map we did of all the surveillance cameras (CCTV) in the Downtown and Downtown Eastside neighbourhoods.

The good news is that this map is available for download from our main VPSN Surveillance & Security webpage. The bad news is that it only documents the 2000 or so cameras that we found before the Olympics. The mapping project recorded this data in the Fall of 2009 – prior to the installation of the Olympic CCTV cameras that now encircle the various athletics venues and Livesites (and streets and gathering places) around town.

That means the map is shy by at least 900-1000 cameras (our best guess, based on reports of government-installed, games-related CCTV, but excluding any other CCTV installed by the private sector, foreign contingents, etc.)

Statements made by local elected officials prior to the Olympics have suggested that Games-related CCTV will be “temporary” – though this term has never been particularly well-defined. With recent Olympics in Greece, China and the US resulting in CCTV “legacies” being left behind in host-cities, we are hopeful that Vancouver will chart a different course… and the cameras will be boxed and returned to Superstore once the 2010 games are over.