Quote:
Originally Posted by logan5
My one concern about this, and about Main Street and South Granville as well, is the effect these new rules will have on the retail strips that are the heart of these neighbourhoods. What I have read so far seems to indicate that the retail strips will be eligible for redevelopment at the prescribed densities. That would not be good, as these mixed use buildings give the public realm a very sterile feel.
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The best way to ensure treasured retail strips stay intact or are at least incrementally changed, is to open up broader swaths of the city to dense mixed-use buildings. If the city prioritizes protecting block after block of virtually identical bungalows and Vancouver specials by restricting higher orders of density to established thoroughfares like Hastings, Granville, Commercial, and Main, all of the existing building stock including commercial units that can command decent rents due to attractive frontages and good locations will just be replaced faster.
If people actually care about protecting Kerrisdale or Point Grey Village or The Drive, they should stop opposing mid-rise buildings two or three blocks off these arterials.