In Vancouver, affordable housing continues to be an issue, despite the amount of development. (photo from satanoid / flickr)
In the April 5 civic by-election, TEAM for a Livable Vancouver has nominated Colleen Hardwick, a former city councilor, and Theodore Abbott, a community organizer and urban researcher.
TEAM is a political organization with a mandate of reversing what it sees as problems that have developed over the past decade, and prioritizing thriving, livable neighbourhoods. It promises to value the contributions of neighbourhood organizations, commit to genuine consultation with residents and put first the types of housing that residents say they need to manage the housing crunch. TEAM also promises to resist the promotion of building that maximizes developer profits.
TEAM was created in 2021 and the organization’s website notes that the name comes from the Electors’ Action Movement (TEAM), “the party that brought residents together in 1968 to save Strathcona, Chinatown, Gastown and Vancouver’s waterfront from a freeway system. Then, City Hall bureaucrats badly underestimated the desire of residents to have meaningful involvement in the face and future of their city.
“We are feeling a similar disconnect today.”
In addition to the priorities listed above, TEAM highlights evidence-based decision-making, being “realistic about Vancouver’s contribution to climate change … without overburdening already financially-stressed residents,” and helping council, school and park boards to work together more.
These are all issues that deeply concern David Fine. The Jewish filmmaker and TEAM member is working on a documentary titled Is This the City We Want to Build?, wherein he interviews renters facing the loss of their homes under the Broadway Plan. Born in Toronto, Fine lived in London, England, for 19 years before moving to Vancouver in 2004.
“There’s a huge disconnect between earning potential and the high prices of houses here,” he said. “Our housing market is overrun by developers who want to sell to international buyers instead of locals. We’re seeing massive tower development, displacement of thousands of people from affordable housing and criticizers being called ‘anti-progress’ and ‘anti-development.’ Over the years, on a civic level, not enough has been done to address this, and I feel the civic parties have been funded by, and are acting on behalf of, the development industry – to serve their interests.”
Fine believes the city urgently needs more housing, but housing that serves a broad spectrum of needs.
“Small apartments don’t work for growing families that need space and, if you’re driving families further out, it undermines the whole notion of a walkable city,” he said. “Look around at the pace of development and the threat of towers everywhere. Some 2,000 homes a year will be demolished in favour of towers. People need to be aware of what’s going on and oppose this, and TEAM is the only party taking a position on what’s happening.”
Michael Geller, another member of the Jewish community, has spent the past 50 years involved with housing and more than 20 developments.
“I’ve made a living promoting high-density development, but I’m concerned about where all those existing tenants are going to go, notwithstanding tenant protection policies,” Geller said. “I just don’t think it’s fair for them to have to move to Langley or Burnaby, or out of the community, and there isn’t the available stock to relocate a lot of those tenants.”
An architect and a planner, Geller believes that proposals to treble or quadruple allowable density is a planning mistake.
“I’ll be glad if most of those existing buildings, especially those that have been well maintained, continue to operate as affordable rental buildings,” he said. “I don’t want the city’s rezoning plans to change the character of some of Vancouver’s charming neighbourhoods. “
The densification of Vancouver and the financialization of the housing market are polarizing issues. If you’re a tenant, you’re likely feeling the vulnerability caused by the possibility of change, and, with it, the threat that a community you’ve grown to love may become unaffordable. If you’re a property owner or a landlord, you want to maximize your investment and, if that means increasing rent or redeveloping, should that decision not be yours?
“I’m torn,” Geller admitted. “There are several property owners who are friends of mine and members of the Jewish community, who’ve asked me to assist them in seeking approvals for redevelopment of their properties. At the same time, I feel it would be better not to completely change the character of some of our lovely streets.”
Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.