False Creek proven model for affordable living

One solution is right in front of us, Richard Evans writes.

Vancouver’s housing affordability crisis has been a constant election discussion, with each candidate putting forward their strategy for delivering affordable, often non-market, housing.

Yet even as forums are organized and hashtags fly on Twitter, you wouldn’t know that Vancouver already has an internationally recognized model for building affordable, sustainable neighbourhoods.

We are talking about False Creek South, the neighbourhood along the south shore of False Creek between the Burrard and Cambie bridges. Eighty per cent of the land is owned by the City of Vancouver and leased to an integrated community of co-ops, rental, leasehold strata, non-profit and supportive housing. A network of wonderful parks, gardens, courtyards and the recently upgraded walkway/ bikeway along the seawall seamlessly knit together all these residential enclaves.

Like many old industrial areas in North America, False Creek South was an industrial wasteland in the 1960s. Opposed to letting it lay fallow, the city — with strong senior government and community partners — redeveloped it as a highly livable, affordable, mixed income community.

The secret ingredient? Those long-term leases and a diversity of housing options to meet all needs and incomes. For decades, this mixedincome community has thrived and been showcased as a model for planning professionals and elected officials from all over the world.

The solution seems clear. If we want to solve the housing problem in Vancouver, we must focus not only on constructing buildings, but on developing complete communities, particularly neighbourhoods where land remains in the public trust to protect homes from speculation and the volatilities of the market. This trust can be established through public or community ownership and regulations that ensure ongoing affordability.

We must focus not only on constructing buildings, but on developing complete communities.

False Creek is a model that can and should be adopted in other parts of the city and region, especially in areas surrounding larger parks and schools that can serve as focal points, not just for medium-density housing, but for strong community development for people of all ages and incomes.

The leases in False Creek South are nearing an end and it has not yet been possible for leaseholders and the city to agree on leaserenewal terms that will ensure the long-term viability and expansion of this model neighbourhood.

The good news is Vancouver city council unanimously approved the new Housing Endowment Fund, which will allow city-owned land to be designated for co-ops and non-profit housing. Rather than focusing on profiting from city-owned land and ensuring purely economic returns, the mandate of this new fund should allow land to be managed with long-term social, environmental and economic sustainability in mind.

At False Creek South, we are looking to the future. We are looking at greening and retrofitting our buildings; we are discussing how to best develop additional housing that allows for aging in the community, welcomes new families, and allows people who work in the city to live near their places of employment.

False Creek South is one of the few proven models Vancouver has for creating sustainable and affordable communities.

With so many candidates talking about innovative, non-market solutions to the housing crisis, it’s time for the lessons of False Creek South to become a part of the conversation.

This election, ask your local candidates how they plan to deliver on their housing platform and what they think can be learned from the past successes like False Creek South.