We continue to support the proposal to remove the viaducts. The most recent technical report produced by City staff – and currently being deliberated by City Council – responds to a number of questions (particularly around road realignment, traffic flow and existing parks and gardens) that had been raised by residents earlier in the process. We think this document does a commendable job of further making the case for taking the viaducts down. Earlier this week, we wrote to Mayor Robertson and members of Council to say as much. The following is an excerpt of our submission.

…The VPSN has supported the removal of the Viaducts since the City first introduced this idea a number of years ago. We have participated on the NEFC Steering Committee, written previous letters of support, and have discussed this issue widely with our membership.

After reviewing the most recent staff report and documentation, we continue to support the removal of the Viaducts on the basis that this move will:

• Remove aging and overbuilt highway infrastructure from our city’s core area
• Enable significant public space improvements
• Better knit together the existing downtown, Strathcona and DTES communities and road networks
• Create new opportunities for urban growth and development that support the goals of compact, walkable neighbourhoods and the creation of new social infrastructure

We are particularly supportive of the further work that has been done to identify potential public space improvements, including:

• Expanded park area in Creekside Park, modifications to Andy Livingston Park, the replacement of existing skatepark facilities, the opportunity to achieve the “Georgia Steps”, and the creation of a Creekside Promenade
• An elevated park area that utilizes components of the Dunsmuir viaduct
• Improvements to active transportation facilities in the area
• Public space programming ideas that reference a range of uses that will appeal to the diverse interests and needs of Vancouver’s residents and visitor base

While we understand that the capital costs of removing the Viaducts will be a cause concern for some, we also understand that the City will be required to spend significant capital dollars regardless of whether or not the Viaducts are removed. (This isn’t a matter of paying or not paying – it’s a matter of when.)

We believe the City is being proactive and has taken the right steps to assess the implications and opportunities associated with removing this aging highway infrastructure. We don’t feel that the Viaducts should ever be upgraded. Simply put, the opportunity to improve the City though the creation of new neighbourhoods, better open space and more social infrastructure is infinitely more compelling.

1) Final Concepts for the Jim Diva (“Heart of Davie”) Plaza at Bute and Davie are being presented for comment on Thursday, October 22 (4-7pm) and Saturday October 24 (11am-2pm). Stop by the proposed plaza area and share your thoughts! | More info –

2) The Park Board is also holding an open house on Thursday, October 22 to review design options for a new park at Smithe and Richards. Drop in anytime between 4:30 – 8:30pm at the ArtStarts Gallery, 808 Richards Street. | More info –

3) Finally, Looking for other ways to engage? The City Council is also currently deliberating over the future of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts.

A City staff report (PDF) has been prepared that outlines various technical considerations related to the decomissioning of this highway infrastructure. Several acres of new and improved park space are proposed as part of the discussion, as well as better neighbourhood connections, a “Georgia Wharf”, new housing and additional social infrastructure.

A presentation by staff took place on Tuesday, and members of the public were able to share their take on the removal of the viaducts starting today. Council is reconvening to hear from speakers on Tuesday, October 27. Review the report and share your thoughts by attending Council or sending your input via email – mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca.

UPDATE: The original survey deadline has been extended by a few days. It now closes on November 12, 2012.

The City of Vancouver has just launched a survey to gather input on the future of Block 51 – the area bounded by Hornby, Georgia, Robson and Howe. The survey looks at the possible expansion of Robson Square (creating a pedestrian-only space on the segment between Hornby to Howe) as well as the future of the north plaza of the Art Gallery (also called Courthouse Plaza or Centennial Plaza).

We’d encourage you to take a few moments to fill out the questionnaire – and to send it along to your various contacts and networks.

You can access the on-line version here: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/Block51/

Here’s a few more notes from the City’s announcement:

Please take a moment to fill out the survey. Let us know how you would like to see 800-block Robson Street and the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza used in the future, and whether you support the permanent closure of 800-block Robson Street to create a pedestrian plaza.

Your feedback will be given to the designers of the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza, and the feedback regarding 800-block Robson Street will be included in the report to Vancouver City Council.

If you could please help us out by sharing the survey link with your networks, via email or social media, it would be greatly appreciated. And if you are tweeting, please add the hashtag #Block51 to your tweets.

Survey link: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/Block51/

City webpage: http://vancouver.ca/block51

Poster for the City’s “Block 51” Events & Consultation

The City of Vancouver has just announced two events related to the potential expansion of Robson Square and the future of the north end of the Art Gallery. Both events are coming up next week (October 15 and October 17). They’re free, but you’ll need to register to attend. Act now, as seats are expected to go fast!

The events look at the past and future of the city’s “Block 51” – the parcel of land bounded by Robson, Howe, Georgia and Hornby. The focus of both will be on the important open-space areas to the north and south of the Art Gallery – and the opportunities for their potential enhancement.

At the south end, the popular 800-block of Robson Street has been temporarily closed for several months now, and the City is studying the possibility of improving this gathering area by keeping the street permanently closed to vehicles.

At the same time the City is also looking at potential design improvements to the north side of the Art Gallery site (variously known as Old Courthouse Square, or Centennial Square). Structural repairs need to be made to protect the underground Art Gallery facilities – and this presents an opportunity for other upgrades to the space.

While the VPSN’s attentions have been mainly focused on the closure of the 800-block of Robson, we’re also deeply interested in the future of the north end of the gallery. Both sites have played an extraordinary role in the city’s public life and we’re excited to see what comes out of these two events and the larger consultation.

Here are the details:

Monday, October 15 – A Look Back
Vancouver Art Gallery, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
750 Hornby Street 

The 1973 National Film Board film “Chairs for Lovers” and a panel with members of the original team for Robson Square will set the context of how this block came to be.

:: Register for “A Look Back”

Wednesday, October 17 – A Look Forward
Vancouver Art Gallery, 7:00-10:00 p.m.
750 Hornby Street

Short and inspirational presentations will look at how this block has been used over the last few years and draw on inspiration from other cities.

:: Register for “A look forward”

Both events will include an illustrated brainstorming exercise that will collect ideas on what type of future uses are desired in each site.

:: For more information– City of Vancouver – Block 51 webpage

Related News

Our good friends at Vancouver Is Awesome just wrote a great letter in support of the permanent closure of the 800-block of Robson. You can check it out here. Thanks for your support VIA!

Why not write your own letter? Send your thoughts and ideas on the future of the 800-block of Robson Street, the north-end of the Art Gallery, (or both), to Mayor Gregor Robertson and members of Council – at mayorandcouncil [at] vancouver [dot] ca.

If you like the Twitter approach, consider following the discussion through that forum. The hashtag is #block51.

We’ve been excited to follow the progress of the City of Vancouver’s re:CONNECT ideas competition. The future of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts has been a hot topic for the last year or so, and even surfaced a few times during the recent election debates.

Earlier today the City posted the entries that have been received. You can view them online and the vote for your favourites.

The follow is the email that was sent out by the Planning Department on the subject.

Just when you thought your chance to vote in Vancouver had passed, here’s another opportunity to have your say and help inform the future of our city.

The deadline for submissions to the open ideas competition re:CONNECT has come and gone and we’re thrilled by the response. In total we received 104 unique submissions from 13 countries (US, Mexico, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Slovenia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia and Canada). While the international response was wonderful, we were particularly pleased with the number of local entries, showing the great energy and creativity around this key city-building question (60% of the submissions were from Vancouver and 75% from Metro Vancouver).

Our exceptional jury of urban experts led by Great Streets author and urbanist Allan Jacobs, has done their hard work and selected winners and honourable mentions in the 3 categories (connecting the core, visualizing the viaducts, and wildcard), in both the fee and free streams and now it is your turn!

On-line voting is now open and will determine the “peoples choice” winners in each category (voting will run from today until November 25, 2011 (this Friday). If you have an interest in the future of the viaducts and our Eastern Core, we hope that you’ll study the entries on-line and help us select the winners! You can rank each entry out of five and comment on any or all of the submissions. This feedback will be used not only to award winners, but will also provide important feedback for the future of this area of our city.

Submissions range from the beautification of the viaducts, to their re-use as open space or other uses, or their partial or complete removal and replacement. The ideas illustrate development, open space and even naturalized futures. The visions range from the practical and pragmatic, to the futuristic and whimsical. Submitters appeared to be inspired by everything from water and nature, to our urban past and current housing challenges, to volcanoes, horses, corn-dogs, and knitting yarn!

All of the winners will be announced at a public event on December 1, 2011. Stay tuned for more details on this event.

Deadline approaches for ideas competition on future of viaducts and Eastern Core

Only two weeks remain to enter the re:CONNECT ideas competition, which is open to anyone with inspiring and innovative concepts for the future of Vancouver’s viaducts and Eastern Core.

The competition is part of the City of Vancouver’s ongoing review of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts and strategic planning for the Eastern Core, which stretches from Northeast False Creek to Clark Drive. Registration deadline is November 2, and entries must be received by November 4.

Citizens and design professionals are encouraged to think big and bold about the possibilities, taking inspiration from transformative urban projects such as New York’s High Line, a linear park built on a decommissioned elevated rail track and Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon, where an elevated highway was removed to create an urban recreation space featuring a day-lighted stream. 

The opportunity to offer ideas for shaping Vancouver’s future has sparked interest around the world. Since the launch of re:CONNECT in late September, over 70 registrations from more than a dozen countries have been received.

While no decisions on the future of the viaducts are being made through re:CONNECT, the City welcomes inspiration and fresh views to help inform future planning.

The competition is divided into two entry streams — free and fee. Both streams will accept submissions in three categories: Big Picture, Viaducts, and Wild Card.

The free stream is directed toward people from any background. The fee stream, while open to anyone who wishes to enter, is directed more at design professionals such as architects, engineers and urban planners. This stream requires an entry fee and will include a monetary award for winning entrants.

Winners from both streams will have their ideas presented in post-competition literature that will be made available online and to Vancouver City Council and profiled at a public forum.

An independent design jury, made up of renowned international and local urban experts, will choose the winners in both streams. A People’s Choice Award will also be given in each category with the winning entries decided by public online voting, which will be open from November 21-25.

Winners will be announced at a public forum on December 1.

To enter or for more information: vancouver.ca/reconnect