Massive urban development to be model for ‘green planning’
Frances Bula
Sun
CREDIT: Ward Perrin, Vancouver Sun Files Looking across to the south shore of False Creek: Opposing councillors warn the redevelopment plan could cause serious financial problems.
VANCOUVER – The official plan for the massive urban development that Vancouver city councillors hope will become a worldwide model for “green” city planning received final approval Tuesday.
Although opposition councillors warned repeatedly that the city could be opening the door to its financial undoing with the expensive plan for southeast False Creek, the nine other council members voted solidly in favour.
In an uncharacteristically formal speech, Mayor Larry Campbell said the plan was “an investment we make in our community.”
He dismissed complaints from councillors Peter Ladner and Sam Sullivan that the city will have to “raid” its $1.2-billion property endowment fund to put in all the public amenities, from seawalls to daycares, planned for the area.
Campbell said the purpose of the endowment fund is to make investments in the community, not to put in the bank.
“It’s a strategic fund, not a rainy-day fund,” he said. The city has used it in the past to invest in developing Champlain Heights, as well as putting it into all kinds of social housing that doesn’t return a profit to the city. Several councillors called it a historic moment.
Southeast False Creek consists of 12 hectares of former industrial land, much of which is owned by the city, on the last piece of vacant shoreline along the inner harbour.
About 10,000 people will eventually live in the community, which will be built according to particular environmental practices.
The COPE council decided last July it would enrich the project by including more child-care spaces, a larger community centre, more park space, and more activity along the water. To do that, it decided not to require the neighbourhood to return a profit to the property-endowment fund and that the $50 million generated from sales be returned to the area for public amenities.
© The Vancouver Sun 2005
False Creek development gets the go-ahead
John Bermingham
The Province
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
A development plan for southeast False Creek, the greenest-ever community in Vancouver and the site of the Olympic Village, got the go-ahead yesterday.
City council unanimously passed the long-term plan for the 32-hectare site between Cambie bridge and Main Street.
There will be a mix of social housing and condos, few cars and lots of community gardens, amenities and park space.
“I think this is going to be a living laboratory,” said Coun. Anne Roberts. “We will look back and say this was a key turning-point.”
But NPA councillors Sam Sullivan and Peter Ladner were concerned the city was dipping into its Property Endowment Fund to pay for $85 million in public amenities.
He said the $1.2-billion fund would be depleted, and could set a dangerous precedent.
“I hope we are not opening the door to the financial undoing of our city,” said Ladner.
Chief city planner Larry Beasley said the money would come from the sale of city land on the site.
“It can be handled and it can be justified,” he said.
Mayor Larry Campbell said the city is taking $50 million from the fund.
“The investment we are making in southeast False Creek is . . . a fraction of the fund’s total value,” he said.
“It’s easy to put the money in your sock and hide it under the bed.”
© The Vancouver Province 2005