The site, for 40 years a cocoon of central, secure, affordable housing, faces an uncertain future
An Olympic Village condo is seen in the distance as people walk along the seawall and a passenger boat travels on False Creek, in Vancouver, on April 2, 2019.On a recent Wednesday evening, residents gathered in a community space in the heart of False Creek South, to learn how to bring their unique 45-year-old community into present-day Vancouver.
On Wednesday, Scot Hein, who was an urban designer at the City for 20 years, laid out the comprehensive plan for False Creek South , and even areas beyond that have room for more density. Mr. Hein, who knows current senior members of city staff, says their high-level work should be helpful, especially as Vancouver embarks on an official citywide plan.
But they worry that way of life is at risk now that many of their land leases are coming due, and they don’t yet have new deals made with the city of Vancouver. It’s a pivotal time for the residents, because after nearly a decade of trying to negotiate, communication with the city had proven fruitless. The anxiety has been tremendous for people whose futures hang in the balance.
Some people who’ve been shut out of the housing market resent the fact that the FCS residents have enjoyed their affordable housing for decades. But the idea is to expand the model they’ve used, not to throw it away, she says.Story continues below advertisement In FCS, the multifamily housing complexes face courtyards, with playgrounds, gardens and pathways. Although it’s low scale, it’s far denser than it appears because there aren’t roads, which take up a lot of city space.“It’s pretty hair-raising – they are very stressed,” Ms. Hannum says. “If the lease runs out and there is no negotiation in time, what happens to them?”
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