What to do with the University Endowment Lands

[madog222]

What say you SSP, should the UEL join the City of Vancouver or become it's own municipality?

Recent high level Provincial study on UEL governance: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/britis...s/governance-powers/uel_final_report.pdf (archived link)
The only conclusion is that the status quo or as a Metro Vancouver service area are not ideal leaving the only options as incorporation into their own municipality or joining another which would be Vancouver.


Image from Province of BC

From the Vancouver Sun:

A provincial study suggests the B.C. government wants out of responsibility for the University of B.C. Endowment Lands, possibly opening the door for the community to join the City of Vancouver or become a new municipality.

It presents the case for two “municipalization” scenarios: Joining Vancouver, or going it alone.

On Wednesday, Metro Vancouver’s electoral area committee will vote on whether it agrees with the province’s assessment.
...
In previous discussions, UEL residents have resisted joining Vancouver because their taxes could increase, while the city balked at the infrastructure costs associated with amalgamation.

But the provincial report notes UEL could benefit from Vancouver’s much larger tax base and its ability to apply for senior government grants. On the downside, there could be “immediate increased costs” for some services, as well as issues maintaining UEL’s community identity in a large city.

Becoming a new municipality also has pros and cons, said the report. It would bring benefits like greater local representation and control over taxation, growth and development. Challenges could include increased costs associated with incorporation and a relatively small taxable land base.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...d-responsibility-for-ubc-endowment-lands

[fredinno]

Don't annex it to Vancouver. Make it its own municipality.

The UEL is physically separated from Vancouver by Pacific Spirit Park.

The UEL is building a separate municipal center away from Vancouver, and Point Grey residents would likely end up complaining about whatever happens in the University Lands.

IMO, Vancouver should split back to its 1920 borders (I guess with Hastings-Sunrise given to East/South Vancouver) so that it better represents the de-facto divide between the inner suburbs and the urban core (roughly 16th St.)

[GenWhy?]

Becoming its own municipality would require some interesting looks at representation. Homeowners vs students.

[Migrant_Coconut]

In addition, annexing UBC would probably get Pacific Spirit handed over to the Parks Board, and I'm fairly sure nobody here wants that.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

In addition, annexing UBC would probably get Pacific Spirit handed over to the Parks Board, and I'm fairly sure nobody here wants that.

Could it remain a Regional or Provincial park?

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Could it remain a Regional or Provincial park?

Pac Spirit is alreadypp a regional parkp... pl

[GenWhy?]

So I've gotten into the report a bit and found the biggest Red Flag I can think of coming up pre and or post becoming an independent municipality.

_______Pop. (%) Age Income Own / Rent
Area A 490 15% 31.9 97,000 $ 65% / 35%
Area B 390 12% 38.6 157,000 $ 82% / 18%
Area C 340 11% 41.6 128,000 $ 74% / 26%
Area D 1,950 62% 26.5 39,000 $ 35% / 65%
TOTAL 3,170 100% 28.8 52,000 $ 46% / 54%

[madog222]

Pacific Spirit is currently a Metro Vancouver regional park, it should be able to remain that way regardless of what happens.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by fredinno

Don't annex it to Vancouver. Make it its own municipality.

The UEL is physically separated from Vancouver by Pacific Spirit Park.

The UEL is building a separate municipal center away from Vancouver, and Point Grey residents would likely end up complaining about whatever happens in the University Lands.

IMO, Vancouver should split back to its 1920 borders (I guess with Hastings-Sunrise given to East/South Vancouver) so that it better represents the de-facto divide between the inner suburbs and the urban core (roughly 16th St.)

Why would you want further balkanization of Metro Vancouver. We don't need any more pint size municipalities, if anything we should be amalgamating them!

[GenWhy?]

"For the 411 single family properties in UEL, the average assessed value in 2021 was $5.46 million"

[logan5]

The whole are between Chancellor and 16th should be developed into high density housing. Way too much forest and golf courses for too few people. Even Pacific Spirit park is way too big for the number of people it serves.

[Tysonbrown]

Leave them alone

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by logan5

Even Pacific Spirit park is way too big for the number of people it serves.

Imagine complaining that a park is too big.

[Migrant_Coconut]

We can always redevelop the Endowment Land later, after we've densified the thousands of detached homes next to it. The entire point of greenfield land is to keep it in reserve.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

We can always redevelop the Endowment Land later, after we've densified the thousands of detached homes next to it. The entire point of greenfield land is to keep it in reserve.

There’s going to be a multi billion dollar subway running right through the middle of that area.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by logan5

The whole are between Chancellor and 16th should be developed into high density housing. Way too much forest and golf courses for too few people. Even Pacific Spirit park is way too big for the number of people it serves.

All ze green spaces must be destroyed. Clearcut it, level it and put up a forest of banal 50 story towers. Paradise!

[MIPS]

Converting it into any sort of hybrid greenspace and residential zoning (what's even the point of zoning any fraction of it commercial?) serves no point besides maintaining that corner of the city as some of the most expensive real estate in the province. It benefits nobody beyond the ultra-wealthy.

Vancouver : We are proud of our large and lush green spaces throughout the city
Also Vancouver: Ugh! Why is this land just doing nothing?? D:

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by logan5

There’s going to be a multi billion dollar subway running right through the middle of that area.

A subway which could also support campus expansion, or offices, or a stadium or convention centre, or a city zoo, or an airship terminal, or just remain a wildlife preserve. Once it’s low or midrise residential suburbia, it’s staying that way.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by logan5

There’s going to be a multi billion dollar subway running right through the middle of that area.

By that logic we should develop Central Park in Burnaby?

[madog222]

Calling Pacific Spirit greenfield implies it can be developed, it can't be, it's protected conservation & recreation park land.

The golf course on the other hand can be developed, just not for the next 60 years.