Vancouver–Point Grey NDP MLA David Eby questions future of Jericho Lands

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      The future of the Jericho Lands reminds David Eby of two contrasting Vancouver waterfront developments: False Creek South and Coal Harbour.

      Eby is the NDP MLA for Vancouver–Point Grey, where the large property between 8th and 4th avenues and Highbury and Discovery streets is located.

      Half of the land was previously owned by the Department of National Defence. Last year, that 21-hectare parcel was bought by the Canada Lands Company, a federal development agency, in partnership with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.

      According to Eby, the provincial government is talking with the same aboriginal consortium about the sale of the other half, which B.C. owns.

      “It would make sense if that’s the group that they’re looking at selling to, that the whole parcel would be developed together,” Eby told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview.

      What the Jericho Lands of tomorrow would look like is another thing.

      As far as Eby is concerned, he would like to see the “next evolution” of False Creek South, where about 6,000 residents live in a mix of housing co-ops, rentals, and condos that were built on former industrial lands starting in the 1970s.

      “It’s full of families. It’s full of seniors. There are people who own their property, and it is, for being a waterfront property, relatively affordable,” Eby said about the community that stretches east from near Granville Island. “The next generation of that…is a recognition by the province and by all levels of government that housing affordable to people who live and work in the city is Priority 1 for the sustainability of Vancouver.

      “And the last thing I want to see—and I think that most people in the community agree on this—is another Coal Harbour, a bunch of vacant luxury towers.”

      But, Eby said, “that’s where we’re headed.”

      Coal Harbour was developed in the 1990s as an upscale neighbourhood of high-rises in Downtown Vancouver between Stanley Park and the Vancouver Convention Centre.

      According to Eby, Canada Lands is required by its mandate to get the highest value out of its properties.

      “There’s very little question but that selling luxury condos to absentee investors is the highest short-term profit for the land,” the MLA said. “But in terms of the long-term profit of the community, it’s probably the worst possible outcome.”

      If there is only one question Eby can ask Canada Lands, he said, it’s going to be this: “How can the community stop this property from becoming a sea of vacant luxury-condominium towers? Seriously!”

      On Wednesday (April 29), Eby can ask that, and likely more, of Robert Howald, senior vice president of Canada Lands, at a public forum sponsored by the West Point Grey Residents Association.

      Howald, already in town, told the Straight in an April 27 phone interview that the federal development agency doesn’t know what the B.C. provincial government wants to do with its half of the Jericho Lands.

      “We would plan our site, and it would certainly be planned with the idea that there could be connections through the provincial piece if it’s ever developed,” Howald said. “But at this point, we’ve been given no indication from the province as to what their plans are.”

      Howald also stressed that it’s still early days to talk about the future development of the Jericho Lands. He estimated that it may take three to five years before a policy statement is developed for the property.

      The Crown executive explained that although his agency is not required to build affordable housing, he expects this type of housing to be part of the future development.

      “Although we don’t have one [an affordable-housing mandate] ourselves, specifically…we would build and operate it…just like any large development piece in Vancouver. There’ll be a significant amount of affordable housing, I’m sure,” Howald said.

      Eby and Howald will speak at the April 29 forum to be held at the Jericho Hill Gymnasium (4180 West 4th Avenue), starting at 7 p.m.

      Meanwhile, B.C. Liberal MLA Amrik Virk, who is Minister of Technology, Innovation, and Citizens’ Services, and minister responsible for land sales, didn’t grant an interview before the Straight’s deadline.

      Comments

      16 Comments

      Gurn name taken

      Apr 28, 2015 at 9:52pm

      Whatever it takes to make it easier to make a left at 4th & Alma

      Well okay

      Apr 29, 2015 at 7:39am

      I'm pleasantly surprised because I expected Eby to DEMAND that all of the lands be converted to free housing for addicts and the homeless. Maybe his inner yuppie is finally emerging?

      Six thousand residents?

      Apr 29, 2015 at 8:54am

      It wont be easier to turn left.

      MaureenM

      Apr 29, 2015 at 9:05am

      "australia october 2014 report on foreign investment" < google that for information on how Australia is dealing with overwhelming foreign investment both commercially and in the residential housing market. They have instituted residency requirements and tax requirements so investors don't create something like Coal Harbour.

      There are a record number of billionaires from all over the Globe who need places to park and grow their money. For instance in Canada, foreign hedge funds have been buying up Saskatchewan farmland driving up property taxes for local farmers.

      There is also a report by Curtis Associates of Australia from April 2014 outlining commercial and residential breakdown by country who have invested or bought property in Australia. It ain't all about the Chinese, although in Africa and other places they are way ahead of the curve in investment in resource extraction and have been for years (BC jade found in China from 1000 years ago).

      http://www.curtisassociates.com.au/RESOURCECENTRE/tabid/66/EntryId/71/Sp...

      Make on informed decision please! Stop being so damn nieve and "nice." It is financially irresponsible and incredibly stupid.

      @Mr. Eby

      Apr 29, 2015 at 9:25am

      How do you prevent another Coal Harbour? Easy, you pass by-laws limiting housing density.

      The last thing that we want is TransLink to use Jericho Lands as an excuse for its idiotic subway scheme to UBC. Honesty, we live in earthquake prone Vancouver, and the idiots at TransLink have ignored this to build elevated and buried lines which will take years to complete and will leave thousands stranded for years after the next “big one”.

      These lines will be abandoned to build LRT lines which can carry more people for less money and can be constructed in a fraction of the time. So, if you want to save Point Grey, do us a favour and work on legislation to eliminate TransLink.

      In the meantime since you represent Point Grey where I live, give Andrea Reimer a call at the COV and give her an ear full about the social impacts (noise and vibrations) and environmental impacts (carbon emissions) of the stupid 99 B-Lines operating empty to UBC over the summer every three minutes. Thanks.

      FR

      Apr 29, 2015 at 9:50am

      Vacant luxury towers guaranteed. How can anybody doubt that this is always the outcome?

      Billionares Row

      Apr 29, 2015 at 10:15am

      At the very least mixed use Housing for Canadians of all regular incomes.

      Not for Multimillionaires or Billionaires.

      Sylvia

      Apr 29, 2015 at 10:31am

      All seem sound and reasonable, but how reasonable and sound are you all about the poor public?

      Have you voted Yes or No?
      Or still unde cided?
      Or not going to vote atl?

      I think we all know that voting is a small part of the process and have to follow up. Diligently, without fear, without being a needy or lazy, or greedy, conssientiously.

      Can this Jerrico Land be used somehow to boost our batteted poor public? I guess not

      LMAO

      Apr 29, 2015 at 10:35am

      The land will be developed how the aboriginal bands choose to develop it and folks that will be condos: don't be shocked if Gregor's BFF Ian Gillepsie's company builds the project and another Gillespie concern gets an exclusive utility contract. Development as usual in Vancouver, and when Gregor teams up with a close friend you know the Striaght will hop right on the band wagon.

      Ripley

      Apr 29, 2015 at 9:12pm

      Housing in Coal Harbour might be pricey but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the $3M+ single-family homes in Eby's riding. Also, the best estimate we have on Coal Harbour vacancy is that 75% of the units are occupied - Jericho would have to be very different to end up as "a sea of vacant luxury-condominium towers".

      If we can't build new housing in a hugely desirable neighbourhood with great transit and zero gentrification issues, where *can* we build it? It's really sad to see an NDP MLA working for obscenely wealthy homeowners.