The City of Vancouver through their online “Shape Your City” is looking for feedback on a policy statement to guide the ʔəy ̓alməxʷ / Iy ̓álmexw / the Jericho Lands development, and has two potential site usage options for the public to comment on. This site is in West Point Grey and is bounded by West Fourth Avenue, HIghbury Street, West 8th Avenue to the South and West Point Grey Park.
In a unique partnership with the federal Canada Lands Company (CLC) and the MST Development Corporation (representing the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations who have purchased this ninety acre (36 hectare) site.
As Joanne Lee-Young writes in the Vancouver Sun major issues like reconciliation and climate emergency measures have been discussed and folded into the philosophy of site design. The redevelopment of these lands will be using existing city guidelines and be in keeping with regulations and policies.
This group has hosted a series of lectures and events, bringing in speakers to talk about how such a site could be developed, and discussing emerging concepts and work. There has always been a degree of engagement with the community, and the CLC representative has always been available to discuss or answer questions on the process or the site.
A rendering has been circulating showing three towers of around 38 storeys of units (to represent the three First Nations). The site can host 10,000 new homes, with a potential build out of ten million square feet of floor space.
There are two conceptual site plans that have been created in consultation with City staff: “Eagle” and “Weave” that address different philosophies to massing, public space and site mobility. You can review the two different designs here.
“Eagle” land use proposal
Until Sunday, November 14, the City is asking for input on these site options, and has a website where you can read the materials and then fill out a survey. There’s extensive background materials that describe how the proposed site planning was arrived at, and a timeline for next steps. City staff are also available to meet at a site office in Point Grey for small groups or one on one meetings, following Covid protocols. You can book a meeting here.
“Weave” land use proposal
Interesting to see the COV seeking comments for the Jericho project when absolutely nothing similar was offered for Senakw. Having said that, both Eagle and Weave appear to obliterate the character of the neighbourhoods. Do you prefer cancer or a stroke?
There’s a lot to like in both concepts.
But Weave explicitly creates new streets allowing through traffic between 4th Ave and 8th Ave. This violates one of the foundational principles — that of being car-light. It is an invitation to rat-running commuters.
There’s a lot to like in both plans, and all involved should indulge in a big round of back-patting and smiles.
I am concerned that Weave has explicitly proposed two new through roads between 4th Avenue and 8th Avenue. This is contrary to the foundational principle of Jericho being car-light. It opens up opportunities for rat-running commuters.
Welcome to the ignorium where imagery of a rosy future guides a narrative of something that does not exist but if it could it would represent the high point of the past industrial age energized as it was and still is by the combustion of fossil fuels and the release of carbon into the atmosphere. This project cannot be built as imagined without introducing an enormous carbon cloud helping to cloak the planet and trap solar heat gain. It might be possible to construct the site plan but the first step needs be the construction of zero emissions supply chains for materials, equipment, and labor. Infrastructure? B.C. Hydro. connectivity. rain water. a bit of wind. a bit of sun. a few trees. that’s it for carbon free resources. no asphalt, concrete, steel, structural glass, no gas/diesel machines. Something to live in could still be built based on material research, process engineering, and scientific principles. An on site factory producing ‘rooms to go carbon free’ would be a good starting point. This suggests that paths are needed between collections of rooms located across the landscape and is the first hint at how we might start to think about this site in terms of zero carbon emissions.