Downtown Vancouver Updates

[mcminsen]

The library has been getting a much needed cleaning. You can see the difference in the last pic. Perhaps regularly scheduled maintenance and/or to coincide with the opening of the roof level soon.




Sept.16 '18, my pics

[Graham_Yvr]

Excellent, the last time that was done was just before the 2010 Olympics.

[mcminsen]

Sept.17 '18, my pics

[jollyburger]

Rooftop opens September 29th at the main branch of the VPL

[a very long weekend]

They should be building these across the entire south of Vancouver - pull down the specials, pull down the cost of housing, pull up the young, pull up the people.

[osirisboy]

Is it just me or do these temporary modular housing projects seem incredibly wasteful? Will all this just end up in a landfill soon? Would be better to build something to last a long time

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Is it just me or do these temporary modular housing projects seem incredibly wasteful? Will all this just end up in a landfill soon? Would be better to build something to last a long time

The idea is that these are demountable and can be reused in another location. Most of the current locations have medium term plans for permanent development, but are available for at least three years, and more likely five to perhaps ten years.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The idea is that these are demountable and can be reused in another location. Most of the current locations have medium term plans for permanent development, but are available for at least three years, and more likely five to perhaps ten years.

It's practically deceptive on the city's part to claim that these are temporary. When I think of temporary, it's a much shorter period of time than the ten years figure they have communicated to the communities.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by s211

It's practically deceptive on the city's part to claim that these are temporary. When I think of temporary, it's a much shorter period of time than the ten years figure they have communicated to the communities.

Sorry - my comment was misleading. The City says three to five years. They obviously hope/anticipate that the sites will have funding or plans in place to develop permanent housing in those locations in that timeframe. That will in part depend on finance raised by the City, and continued finance from the Province and/or Federal governments. I personally could see a couple of the sites taking a bit longer for that to happen, but I could be quite wrong.

At least a couple of the sites, Larwell and the viaducts site will have more complicated projects replacing the temporary housing, and a couple are in industrial areas where current policy wouldn't see them replaced as permanent housing.

The other aspect is that these are also not intended to be long term homes for the tenants - the aim is to move them to permanent housing in around six months. Obviously that depends on having enough additional non-market housing for that to be possible, but it may not be necessary for all of this housing to be available in the longer term.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The other aspect is that these are also not intended to be long term homes for the tenants - the aim is to move them to permanent housing in around six months. Obviously that depends on having enough additional non-market housing for that to be possible, but it may not be necessary for all of this housing to be available in the longer term.

I have my doubts about how temporary the structures will be, or in particular in their current locations. However I wasn't aware that residents would be moving through so quickly. Do we have any data available on the first site at Main & Terminal? Has this transition occurred for many residents?

[s211]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Sorry - my comment was misleading. The City says three to five years. They obviously hope/anticipate that the sites will have funding or plans in place to develop permanent housing in those locations in that timeframe.

For the site near the Canada Line station, the city quoted to the community an initial five year term with an option to extend another five years.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by s211

For the site near the Canada Line station, the city quoted to the community an initial five year term with an option to extend another five years.

Maybe that's where I got the idea of ten years, although the City's website says three to five years. I guess if the site is unlikely to get funding for more permanent development in a shorter timeframe, it's sensible to acknowledge it could be for up to 10 years.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I have my doubts about how temporary the structures will be, or in particular in their current locations. However I wasn't aware that residents would be moving through so quickly. Do we have any data available on the first site at Main & Terminal? Has this transition occurred for many residents?

I may be misreading the statement. It isn't meant to be permanent housing - but the six months is probably referring to how fast the housing can be built - which seems to be true.

•Provides a home for lower-income and homeless residents in approximately six months
•Helps street homelessness by providing a home with the right supports until permanent, affordable housing is available

I haven't seen anything that says how many residents have moved to longer-term accommodation. I'm not sure if the City or BC Housing would report that sort of information. Obviously someone else would move in to any units that are vacated.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I may be misreading the statement. It isn't meant to be permanent housing - but the six months is probably referring to how fast the housing can be built - which seems to be true.

•Provides a home for lower-income and homeless residents in approximately six months
•Helps street homelessness by providing a home with the right supports until permanent, affordable housing is available

I haven't seen anything that says how many residents have moved to longer-term accommodation. I'm not sure if the City or BC Housing would report that sort of information. Obviously someone else would move in to any units that are vacated.

Ahh, got it, thanks.

The cynic in me says these will be around forever. The Larwill Park site and upcoming OV site are probably the ones that would face the most pressure to move as other things get developed on that land. We shall see...

[officedweller]

Even if they stay for a while, they still provide useful housing (versus an empty lot or unused parking lot).

It's probably a catch-22 regarding permanence and long term tenancy, as the longer people live there, the more the facility becomes engrained in the community and the harder to replace when the time comes.

They have a nice appearance, but it would actually be nice if they were taller (and provided more housing).

PS - in terms of "temporary", remember that the UBC post-war stucco buildings (math and math annex, geography, old auditorium) - were all meant to be "temporary" and as far as I know, are still in use today.

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

PS - in terms of "temporary", remember that the UBC post-war stucco buildings (math and math annex, geography, old auditorium) - were all meant to be "temporary" and as far as I know, are still in use today.

UBC: one of the nicest post-secondary settings with the absolutely worst building stock possible.

[Vin]

Say goodbye to the new art gallery.... not that it's a great loss.

[dleung]

This is on the same level of stupid as the rapid bus line constructed in Richmond only to be demolished 5 years later.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

Say goodbye to the new art gallery.... not that it's a great loss.

The temporary housing isn't on the Art Gallery part of the site - not that they've raised the finances they need.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The temporary housing isn't on the Art Gallery part of the site - not that they've raised the finances they need.

Stop clouding his world with facts.