Really looking forward to this panel

Event poster

Panel members across the 4 events

What’s the STATE OF URBAN DESIGN IN CANADA? Mark your calendars for FREE cross-country evenings in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary & Vancouver put on by @canurbanism.bsky.social. I’m speaking on & moderating the VANCOUVER PANEL on April 30th with 3 great urbanists. RSVP HERE:
www.canu.ca/speaker-seri...

Spring stroll in Yaletown

A small sampling of the immersive and impressive architecture and design of Hotel Xcaret resort in Mexico.

Spring in Vancouver today

Vancouver Open Data updated their tree dataset and now also include (some) trees in parks. And I added UBC trees, lots of cherries in bloom up there right now.
Live version: mountainmath.ca/vantrees

It’s nice to be in a city where every tree and plant species wants to grow!

SHAI PASSES WILT FOR THE LONGEST 20+ POINT STREAK OF ALL-TIME 🚨

Wilt: 126 (Oct. 19, 1961-Jan. 19, 1963)
Shai: 127 (Nov. 1, 2024-)

Though it is actually King Ed and Cambie ground zero…

A concentric ring of the BC Transit-Oriented Area legislation.

City Council approves first Vancouver Official Development Plan Council has approved our first-ever Vancouver Official Development Plan, establishing a clear, citywide framework that will guide future land-use decisions and city-building over the next 30 years.

There are process implications of having the ODP in line with BC provincial mandates. If rezonings of 50% or greater residential are compliant with the ODP, a public hearing is prohibited. Council still decides via a regular council item, without speakers. /11

More information: bit.ly/4bBpqyZ

The ODP also lays out the networks such as open space, ecological and mobility networks, amenities and other infrastructure required to support a City of Vancouver that will approach 1 million residents by 2050. /10

The implementation of that newer growth model is well underway, including new area plans, and implemented through more city-initiated rezoning at the area plan level boosting housing delivery. /9

The vision of Vancouver Plan and now the ODP, is one of a more urban future for Vancouver with more housing supply and choice, and a model of growth that is more distributed throughout all Vancouver neighbourhoods, rather than heavily concentrated downtown and select transit hubs. /8

Villages is an upcoming example of that evolution – a concept in the Vancouver Plan, activated through an Area Plan process with community engagement, and will, if Council adopts it, be reflected in the GLU - providing more apartment scale housing across more of Vancouver /7

And we introduced the Generalized Land Use (GLU) map that consolidates decades of existing policy into a single parcel-based map. The GLU will evolve as we complete new area plans and policies – guided by the directions in the Urban Structure Strategy, and policies throughout the Vancouver ODP. /6

The ODP provides greater clarity on the City’s land use objectives and helps streamline housing delivery. It includes the Urban Structure Strategy, which is the high-level and long-term guide for how neighbourhoods will evolve.

Its guiding direction is centred on: equitable housing and complete neighbourhoods; an economy that works for all; and climate protection and restored ecosystems. /3

The ODP is the formalization of our land use vision for the City of Vancouver – our Vancouver Plan. It is our collective north star and there is great value in a holistic, consolidated city-wide plan. /2

Vancouver City Council unanimously approved Vancouver's Official Development Plan. Vancouver's been a bit an oddity, with no statutory city-wide plan in its history.

JWill legacy game

Old vs retrofit. Was great to tour Calling Ministries Deep Energy retrofit of this affordable senior’s housing. It was a partnership among many, including helped by our City of Vancouver retrofit grants. Improved energy performance and livability.

The only good thing about this (as a Canadian and flames fan). The Gaudreaus are the nicest people on earth. Happy for them.

Given the sheer volume of people it will move, the housing (including indigenous led Jericho) and economic potential it will unleash, it needs to be considered a project of national significance.

City-wide Design and Development Guidelines Design and development guidelines to guide how buildings, streets, and public spaces are shaped.

Our new City-wide design and development guide will ultimately rescind about 2200 pages of complex rules and consolidate into one clear, simple playbook. /10

vancouver.ca/home-propert...

And we want to ensure excellence of design as we intensify. Simple, clear expression of design expectations and practice will serve this end better than our current extraordinarily layered and complex set of rules… /9

New Vancouver building rules aim to improve safety and housing supply Vancouver approves new space-saving stair designs and Abandoned and Vacated Buildings By-law.

This low rise density will be further bolstered by novel building solutions like our single egress and space efficient egress regulation. More economical to build, requiring less land assembly as well as better unit liveability /8

vancouver.ca/news-calenda...

Villages planning program 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Tagalog | Español | ਪੰਜਾਬ | Tiếng Việt The Vancouver Plan identifies 25 Villages envisioned as vibrant hubs with diverse housing options and essential shops and services within a short w...

Next, we need more housing options and more distributed growth model. Villages is a strong example of this different approach. Enabling amenity laden, walkable communities with many housing options across more of Vancouver /7

www.shapeyourcity.ca/villages