Residents get peek at future of False Creek
Hundreds of people turned up at an event held by the City of Vancouver Saturday to gather opinions about plans for the last large piece of undeveloped waterfront in the downtown.
The plan for Northeast False Creek — the area just east of B.C. Place and bisected by the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts — will be presented to council in early 2018, after the current round of community consultation on the proposed changes.
“The turnout has been excellent,” project director Kevin McNaney said Saturday afternoon. “We’re seeing both people who live in that neighbourhood and others as well.”
The area’s development is significant not only for residents, but for the entire city, region and even the province, as many people use the stadiums and surrounding area, he explained. “We really want to hear from as many people as possible.”
Gone are the viaducts and empty paved areas, replaced by a waterfront district, new parks, development including social housing, child care and community centres, tied together by a ground-level road network.
About 14,000 people have already provided their views through the consultation process, which began after city councillors voted to demolish the viaducts two years ago.
Comments from earlier public consultation have been incorporated into the latest plan, including efforts to create a better gateway to Chinatown and stronger steps toward reconciliation with the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, as well as Chinese Canadians and the black community.
McNaney said the most common concern he hears is housing affordability, followed by transportation.
Those issues were echoed by Farah, who lives in the neighbourhood and stopped in to check out the plan.
“It looks nice, but I want to know more about the price,” she said.
The False Creek resident was also concerned about traffic, which is “already very bad,” and could get worse if the development brings
The turnout has been excellent. We’re seeing both people who live in that neighbourhood and others as well.
more people to the area.
But she approved of the new and rejuvenated park space along the waterfront.
McNaney said that if council approves the plan, some of the utility work will begin by the end of next year. Replacing the viaducts will be part of a three-year plan to minimize traffic disruption, while private development will proceed at a pace set by the housing market with an expected build out of 10 to 15 years.
The park will be among the city’s first priorities.