Vancouver delays decision on Pearson Dogwood policy after redevelopment plan draws concerns

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      Vancouver city council has referred a policy statement on the proposed redevelopment of the Pearson Dogwood lands for further discussion after the plan drew criticism from people with disabilities.

      More than 20 people addressed council throughout the day Wednesday (January 22), with many pleading the city not to approve the statement.

      Jill Weiss, the chair of Vancouver’s persons with disabilities advisory committee, was among those who spoke against the policy out of concern for a proposal to incorporate 37 beds for people with disabilities into a redeveloped residential-care facility on the site.

      “This proposal that confines people with disabilities to an institution and takes away people’s rights and freedoms will make Vancouver the only city in the world building a new institution for people with disabilities,” she told council.

      “An institution basically is a place where the help that people with disabilities need is organized in such a way that deprives us of liberty, freedom, autonomy and choice,” she added. “This is not about health care. This is about human rights, and the deprivation of liberty.”

      Weiss said she feels like council heard the concerns raised by the speakers.

      “We’re quite hopeful that council deferred it to staff,” she told the Straight by phone today (January 23). “I think council wisely thought ‘let’s take a better look at this, let’s take some time to come up with what’s really the right thing’, and I really appreciate that.”

      Vision Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs said the referral to a future meeting will allow city staff to consult with Vancouver Coastal Health and the province to address the concerns that have been raised.

      “We’ve asked staff to go back and sit down with Coastal Health to see if we can really clarify what their intentions are and re-think the proposal to a level that will get broader acceptance in the disabilities community,” he said in a phone interview.

      “These are really, really difficult and important issues, and one of the suggestions in the policy statement that attracted some attention was the idea that Coastal Health have a blue-ribbon panel of experts and advocates who can confirm as the project goes on that it’s achieving best practice in terms of the housing options for people with disabilities, and that it also is reflecting the values in the UN Declaration of Rights for People with Disabilities.”

      The 25-acre Pearson Dogwood site between 57th and 59th avenues and Cambie and Heather streets is home to the George Pearson Centre, which was built in 1952 as a sanatorium for people with tuberculosis and currently consists of 120 residential-care beds for people with disabilities. The land is also home to the Dogwood Lodge, a residential-care facility that houses 113 seniors.

      The policy statement that went before council proposed that the Pearson Centre be replaced with 83 independent living units for people with disabilities, and 37 residential-care beds. A new facility is planned to replace the Dogwood Lodge, containing a total of 150 residential-care beds.

      Brad Foster, a real-estate consultant to VCH on the redevelopment project, noted the main concern appears to be the 37 beds for people with disabilities proposed for the complex-care facility. He pointed out that these units were requested by current Pearson residents.

      “I think what we’ll probably do is take those 37 units right out of there, because that seems to be the big contentious issue, and we’ll turn those 37 units into supportive housing,” he told the Straight by phone.

      “That said…once we have units available and people really begin to move out of Pearson, if people request to have a more residential-care environment, then VCH will work with those people on an individualized basis and see where they could go either on the site or in VCH’s residential-care stock in Vancouver,” Foster added.

      Others that spoke out against the policy statement Wednesday included paralympian Paul Gauthier.

      “I live in fear everyday, because I don’t know if my supports will be taken away and I will end up in an institution that Vancouver may be building,” he told council.

      “I urge you today to not pass this policy statement and to think about the fact that one day, you could be someone with a disability. It could happen to you tomorrow, and you just need to ask yourself: do you want to be forced to live in an institution where your family will not be able to stay and live with you? I have a three-and-a-half-year-old boy. Do you think that boy will be able to live in that institution with me? Absolutely not.”

      Chris Morrissey, the chair of the city’s seniors advisory committee, told council there has been very little focus on either the redeveloped Dogwood Lodge, or on the needs of seniors.

      “We are seriously concerned about the absence of reference to housing for seniors, with the exception of those already at Dogwood who will continue to live on the site,” she told council.

      “We strongly urge that the City of Vancouver require the number of units of social housing in the Pearson Dogwood redevelopment be increased in consultation with the seniors advisory committee so that older adults have access to more affordable housing as defined by CMHC.”

      The development proposed for the Pearson Dogwood lands, which is intended to leverage funds for health care, also includes plans for housing, a new Canada Line station, and a community health centre.

      Comments

      2 Comments

      G

      Jan 24, 2014 at 11:57am

      The Pearson'/Dogwood land development is part of Visions' long term gift to developers. The development at 57th & Cambie is supposed to include a Canada Line station which only makes sense if there is more development in the area besides that at Pearson. Look across from Pearson and you get the southwest corner of Langara Golf Course, which has been under threat from the Vision Parks Board for years and is prime real estate along the Cambie corridor. Vision has been laying the ground work for the project for years but can't announce it until after the next civic election. Vision need a majority on Council & Parks Board next fall to implement their various "delayed" neighbourhood plans and follow through on their promises to friendly developers.

      The Pearson site includes a new YMCA, replacing the one on land leased from the city right next to Langara Golf Course. The process is already underway to turn green space into condos but the bulk of you are too busy thinking the bike issues are "vital," conveniently distracted by Visions' red herring as their members pockets and party coffers are filled by grateful developers. The decision has already been made folks: the Pearson lands will be developed. Visions' mismanagement of the city finances will give them a convenient excuse as to why we will lose some Langara lands to development: it will be the "only" alternative to massive tax increases.
      The windfall for developers will be millions, and some of that cash will find its way into the pockets of politicians from the Mayor on down the line.

      Somehow Vision has managed to be the friendliest city government to developers since Tom Campbell. Their skillful propaganda surrounding their "green" and "social justice" concerns wouldn't shows how easy it is to distract supporters of those policies with platitudes and small projects whilst giving developers what they want as long as they donate to Vision. Vision have even used their bike myths to close a major road to all but residents for "safety," even though statistics show the stretch of road in question had fewer problems than other bike routes in the city. The road closure has nothing to with safety and everything to do with the fact the Mayor lives nearby and important Vision donors love alone Point Grey Road: 1%ers who are key to Visions' success. The NPA never dreamed of such largesse to their donors.

      PAUL CAUNE

      Jan 25, 2014 at 10:04pm

      Perhaps it is now blindingly obvious to the CEO and Board of VCH that in regards to putting 37 people with disabilities into an institution: "That dog don't hunt."

      Mr.Foster is quoted as saying: "“I think what we’ll probably do is take those 37 units right out of there, because that seems to be the big contentious issue, and we’ll turn those 37 units into supportive housing,”" Doing this would be in the public interest.