Proposal for thinner streets among winning entries in Vancouver housing ideas contest

by Yolande Cole on July 31st, 2012 at 11:50 AM

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Proposals for thinner streets, bridging development directly overtop of existing buildings, and residential units constructed out of shipping containers are among the affordable housing ideas that were selected as part of a City of Vancouver competition.

The winners of the contest were announced by Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson’s task force on housing affordability Monday (July 30) evening, including three proposals selected by a jury, four that were chosen in an online vote, and six honorable mentions.

The three winners chosen by the jury comprised of members of the housing task force include a proposal to allow medium-density additions on top of existing structures, and a model that would narrow some streets to create more room for residential lots.

According to the proponents of that model, Christina Demarco, Ted Sebastian, and Charles Dobson, the thinner streets would make room for between 10,000 and 20,000 units of ground-oriented housing in single-family zones.

The winners selected through an online vote include proposals for more mid-rise development at transit nodes, a “cargo park” consisting of affordable residential units constructed from recycled shipping containers, and measures to enable more cooperative and cohousing developments in the city.

Honourable mentions in the contest include models proposing self-managed low-income housing, courtyard housing, and the preservation and upgrading of city-owned heritage houses in East Kitsilano.

The winning ideas were chosen out of almost 70 entries, and 8,000 votes were cast online during a two-week period.

The selected submissions will be included in the final report of the mayor’s task force on housing affordability, which will go before city council in the fall.

Comments

12 Comments

jonny .

Jul 31, 2012 at 1:50pm

If he could, Gregor would make streets so thin only bikes would fit on them.

The fact is, we need streets, and we need them to be safe, and having streets wide enough is important, not only for driving, but also for parking.

Gregor refuses to require builders to include sufficient parking in their buildings, so street parking is going to become more and more needed.

The building just approved in the West End has less than 1 stall for every 2 units. Some units are 2 or 3 bedrooms. That area is already above max for parking, so this new building will bring in way more people, with not nearly enough parking to add to the already horrible parking woes.

Peter Eller

Jul 31, 2012 at 2:44pm

@Jonny or we could have less cars! more walking more biking more transit

Utilities

Jul 31, 2012 at 4:19pm

Thinner streets makes no sense from a utilities perspective. The corridors are already crowded with sewer, water, gas, communications, hydro, etc. utilities in many parts of the City. Thinner streets might make housing slightly cheaper but it will make utility construction, operation and maintenance much more expensive.

MarkBowen

Jul 31, 2012 at 5:33pm

@Utilities - Looks like that is not the case, according to the proposal: "Sewer, water, gas, telephone and electrical services are normally provided to the front or rear of building lots on the "long" face of a block. As a result, the quiet north-south streets at the ends of blocks are relatively free of underground services."

The proposal with a bunch more info (addresses the parking question as well) is located here: http://www.rethinkhousing.ca/view_submission.php?ID=23

Actually looks like a pretty interesting idea, worthy of more study anyhow. We desperately need more affordable housing in this city, and it may take some creative thinking to help us get there.

3D in 2D

Jul 31, 2012 at 9:07pm

Kind of depressing that the next generation of Vancouverites will have to settle for living in recycled shipping containers.

scahtie

Jul 31, 2012 at 9:11pm

A complete bury-your-head-in-the-sand suggestion. Unless interest rates go up and non-residents aren't allowed to buy, the problem is not going away. Make the streets as thin as you like, it's going to have no effect whatsoever on affordability.

yeahright

Aug 1, 2012 at 12:54am

small crowed streets with a lack of real green space is pretty depressing. Having lived in Japan which is mostly this way with no space or no real way to connect with nature, save for driving to the country, makes life pretty depressing. No wonder Japan has a very high suicide rate. Recent studies support the conclusion that space and nature with access to both lead to a healthier happier you. Losing green space to make things more affordable for houses and not condos or towers built near public transit is lose lose -except for developers

Taxpayers R Us

Aug 1, 2012 at 1:57am

Thin the streets and you drive up the costs of goods sold and services delivered.

The rental prices will never go down, but Visionless Vancouver and this chick's plan will make sure the costs associated with living in this city will go up.