BC’s Housing Conundrum
Guest: Michael Geller, architect
In this edition of Journal, we take a close look at some of the recently announced provincial housing initiatives and see how they work/don’t work in the community.
The most dramatic is the political decision of the provincial government to override the municipal responsibility for zoning, demanding increased density being automatically allowed throughout even single family neighbourhoods with very high density allowed along transit corridors.
Perhaps because of my previous involvement with both levels of government, I have some sympathy for both sides of this issue.
At the municipal level, I understand the desire for mayors and councillors to want control of their own zoning; after all, they are closer to their constituents and are usually quite sensitive to the differing needs of various neighbourhoods.
On the other hand, the provincial government is the big funder of rapid transit and for as long as I can remember, they have always asked for – and been vaguely promised – higher density near transit stops since that increased population feeds the system.
Rarely and slowly did that ever happen, so they are frustrated.
In an attempt to address the pressing issue of affordable housing, the provincial government also promised to speed up the arduous permitting system seen in some urban centres – two sides of the same coin.
Michael Geller has seen it all in his 45 years as a Vancouver architect, planner, real estate consultant and developer.
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