Metro Vancouver Parks & Green Space - Page 9

officedweller · #**161** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 12:02 AM**

Buildings at future block-sized park site in Vancouver to be demolished
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burrard-slopes-park-vancouver-buildings-demolition

Site of the future Burrard Slopes Park. (Vancouver Park Board)
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burrard-slopes-park-vancouver-buildings-demolition

The future Burrard Slopes Park site, with the demolition area highlighted. (Vancouver Park Board)
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burrard-slopes-park-vancouver-buildings-demolition

whatnext · #**162** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 12:16 AM**

OK, since somebody proposed in another thread using Hastings Park for housing, I'm going to ask: instead of building a block-sized park why not just enhance the two small ones and use that land for public housing? That block is literally adjacent to a transit loop and within biking/walking distance of downtown.

FarmerHaight · #**163** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

OK, since somebody proposed in another thread using Hastings Park for housing, I'm going to ask: instead of building a block-sized park why not just enhance the two small ones and use that land for public housing? That block is literally adjacent to a transit loop and within biking/walking distance of downtown.

Because there is a lack of greenspace in South Granville.

WarrenC12 · #**164** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 3:42 PM**

They could split the difference and at least include ~100 units on a corner of that block.

FarmerHaight · #**165** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

They could split the difference and at least include ~100 units on a corner of that block.

Sure, and they could also take 10% of QE and build 1,000s of units but why would they do that?

Broadway is supposed to see an incredible amount of population growth in the coming years, and there is not enough greenspace (or public spaces in general) to serve all those new residents.

WarrenC12 · #**166** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

Sure, and they could also take 10% of QE and build 1,000s of units but why would they do that?

Broadway is supposed to see an incredible amount of population growth in the coming years, and there is not enough greenspace (or public spaces in general) to serve all those new residents.

But this is turning a non-park into a park, not taking away existing park space.

It's a reasonable question to ask. I like to frame it this way: Are we in a housing emergency or not? I guess not... build the park

Changing City · #**167** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 4:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

But this is turning a non-park into a park, not taking away existing park space.

It's a reasonable question to ask. I like to frame it this way: Are we in a housing emergency or not? I guess not... build the park

That's not a great argument for not building the park. It's been planned for well over 20 years, and slowly assembled using DCL payments from the projects built between there and Broadway in the Burrard Slopes 'let go' indistrial area, which is still building out. The Broadway Plan will add a lot more people than when the park was first planned.

The 'housing emergency' argument could be applied to that SEFC area immediately to the west of the Concert projects, where Tesoro is just completing. But it's going to be a park, because there are also a lot of residents there, and there are more to come. If you switched it to even more housing, there would be a greater population and less park space - it's about liveability, and balancing different land use needs.

WarrenC12 · #**168** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 5:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

The 'housing emergency' argument could be applied to that SEFC area immediately to the west of the Concert projects, where Tesoro is just completing. But it's going to be a park, because there are also a lot of residents there, and there are more to come. If you switched it to even more housing, there would be a greater population and less park space - it's about liveability, and balancing different land use needs.

You mean the area that will have 5 condo towers and a slice of park connecting to the seawall? Yeah... let's do that.

Look, I understand what's happening and why.

Changing City · #**169** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

You mean the area that will have 5 condo towers and a slice of park connecting to the seawall? Yeah... let's do that.

Look, I understand what's happening and why.

I though you understood, but not everyone here is as reasonable as you are. The Concert project has four condo buildings, and a co-op, and a fair sized chunk of land that will be part of the bigger East Park there. (That's taking forever for a design to emerge, the Park Board say nothing gets built for at least another 2 years). In the meantime it could be argued 'we have enough parks, let's build more housing there', but on balance I'd argue that it wouldn't make the city a better place to live. There are still many undeveloped / underdeveloped sites to build on first - including in the Burrard Slopes area.

Changing City · #**170** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 6:01 PM**

The Park Board have finally settled on a design for the new park at 7th and Main. There won't be spilling over from the patio of Steamworks - there's a planted berm along the northern edge. There is a pad for a foodtruck on the lane. Construction (and completion) next year, supposedly.

whatnext · #**171** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 6:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

Because there is a lack of greenspace in South Granville.

Not really. The Granville Loop Park is right there. It is a few minutes walk to the Seaforth Park and Vanier Park. Are we in a housing crisis or park crisis?

GMD · #**172** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 11:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

Not really. The Granville Loop Park is right there. It is a few minutes walk to the Seaforth Park and Vanier Park. Are we in a housing crisis or park crisis?

I have this vision of a future Vancouver with no PNE grounds, no parks, no golf courses, no schools, but still with 80%+ of all the land in the city covered by detached houses with front and back yards occupied by one or two elderly people who can barely climb their stairs let along mow their lawn.

Build the park, and upzone any surrounding areas (for this and all other parks in Vancouver) that have detached house only zoning so that more people can enjoy it.

officedweller · #**173** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 11:20 PM**

Parks near Burrard Slopes.
I think the City views it as a connector space between different routes.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/burrard-slopes-park-vancouver-buildings-demolition

whatnext · #**174** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 12:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMD

I have this vision of a future Vancouver with no PNE grounds, no parks, no golf courses, no schools, but still with 80%+ of all the land in the city covered by detached houses with front and back yards occupied by one or two elderly people who can barely climb their stairs let along mow their lawn.

Build the park, and upzone any surrounding areas (for this and all other parks in Vancouver) that have detached house only zoning so that more people can enjoy it.

And then of course replacing those SFH would put more pressure on their nearby parks so you'd have to build more parks.

Seriously, this area has access to a lot of nearby park space. Vanier is hugely underused because it is so unappealing. Even with the Bard on the Beach tents there's a large area of grassy space that is barely used because it is hard-packed and covered in goose poop. Seaforth Park is similarly underused. Put the money into making those spaces more attractive and useable.

GenWhy? · #**175** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 1:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

And then of course replacing those SFH would put more pressure on their nearby parks so you'd have to build more parks.

Seriously, this area has access to a lot of nearby park space. Vanier is hugely underused because it is so unappealing. Even with the Bard on the Beach tents there's a large area of grassy space that is barely used because it is hard-packed and covered in goose poop. Seaforth Park is similarly underused. Put the money into making those spaces more attractive and useable.

I think Vanier will be plenty used once Senakw fills up. Same goes for this park and the Broadway population expected, both employment and residential - similar to John Rogers Park.

Vanier is an awkward park for a variety of reasons / factors.

FarmerHaight · #**176** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

And then of course replacing those SFH would put more pressure on their nearby parks so you'd have to build more parks.

Seriously, this area has access to a lot of nearby park space. Vanier is hugely underused because it is so unappealing. Even with the Bard on the Beach tents there's a large area of grassy space that is barely used because it is hard-packed and covered in goose poop. Seaforth Park is similarly underused. Put the money into making those spaces more attractive and useable.

Ever since the downtown peninsula was turned into one of the most densely populated areas in Canada or the US the City has been trying to catch up with providing sufficient public space. Something like Smithe and Richards was long overdue, and might be insufficient given the heavy use I have witnessed. I am glad the City is thinking ahead by allocating more park space to what will be a very dense area of the City. Residents in Shaughnessy and Oakridge and Killarney have access to many times more the green space and will have a miniscule fraction of the population.

Vin · #**177** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 7:49 PM**

It's about time and this has my full support.

Quote:

City of Vancouver seeks public input on pedestrianized streets in Gastown
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/gastown-public-spaces-plan-vancouver-pedestrianized-streets

P.S. I'm glad the dreaded "nothing good is happening" eras of Gregor Robertson and Kennedy Stewart are of the past.

GenWhy? · #**178** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

It's about time and this has my full support.

P.S. I'm glad the dreaded "nothing good is happening" eras of Gregor Robertson and Kennedy Stewart are of the past.

I find it hilariously sad Council got the Water Street Complete Streets planning program that starting in 2017 scrapped to start all over again in 2023. If they would have kept up with the Complete Streets planning program we could of had this passed this Autumn after a Summer 2022 or 2023 pilot.

Changing City · #**179** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 10:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

It's about time and this has my full support.

P.S. I'm glad the dreaded "nothing good is happening" eras of Gregor Robertson and Kennedy Stewart are of the past.

Feathered Friend posted that in the appropriate thread over a month ago.

Changing City · #**180** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

I find it hilariously sad Council got the Water Street Complete Streets planning program that starting in 2017 scrapped to start all over again in 2023. If they would have kept up with the Complete Streets planning program we could of had this passed this Autumn after a Summer 2022 or 2023 pilot.

They appear to have been working on it in 2020, as it was discussed then at the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee. I think one of the things that threw the timetable was the huge infrastructure upgrade BC Hydro did around Maple Tree Square. The sidewalk restoration has relatively recently been completed.

In future I hope they adopt some paving system that can be restored after construction so that it looks the same when repaired. The fan brick paving is all very well when it's new, but it's a total mess after a few new sewer connections, a fibre-optic installation and a water main burst.