Robyn Chan (Project Manager) and Sarah Brown (Community Planning Assistant), supported by RePlan’s volunteer Leadership Group, Co-op Authorized Working Group, and Community Planning Group, have had a busy year, focusing on increasing outreach into the community, re-establishing connections with the City of Vancouver, and managing two grant-funded projects.

Work with the City of Vancouver

Meetings with Councillors – In March, Councillor Kirby-Yung put forward a motion supporting the construction of new co-ops on City-owned land through a community land trust model and kicking off a new landowner’s plan process for False Creek South. As a result, RePlan staff and Leadership Group members met with City Councillors from all municipal parties to ensure support for lease extensions for existing co-ops, prioritizing vacant land for new construction, and active community involvement in the landowner’s plan process. RePlan’s positions were included in amendments to Councillor Kirby-Yung’s motion, and we continue to pursue them with Council and staff.

Meetings with staff – RePlan has met with City staff in various departments several times over the past year, including Planning, Business Services, Non-Market Housing, and the City Manager’s office. We continue to pursue positive and collaborative relationships, as well as meaningful input into the landowner’s plan and long-term lease extensions for the non-market housing in False Creek South.

Engaging with Community

In 2024 RePlan staff made a concerted effort to reach out to the community, meet with residents, and answer questions.

  • 4 open office hour sessions
  • 1 community Town Hall in April
  • 3 community planning Beta Testing workshops
  • 5 False Creek South 101 workshops on aging in place, community land trusts, the False Creek South Resident Protection and Retention Program, grassroots activism, and building happy neighbourhoods
  • 4 Nathan’s Book Club meetings
  • Meetings with all co-op Boards and/or planning and lease committees
  • Attended the FCSNA Grill’n’Chill
  • Threw the Still Standing party to mark 14 years of RePlan

The False Creek South Neighbourhood Association has also asked RePlan to re-establish a strata residents subcommittee to improve communication with strata residents and to support them through the upcoming landowner’s plan process. The subcommittee has been formed and RePlan is working with them to build out their mandate.

Projects

RePlan received grant funding for two major projects that support our community’s goals of long-term lease extensions and new development that meets our vision for livable, affordable housing.

Embodied Carbon Project – RePlan received $25,000 from Vancity Envirofund to study the environmental and affordability consequences of tearing down existing housing to build concrete towers. This project, set to be completed in January 2025, supports the case for long-term lease extensions for existing affordable housing to reduce environmental impacts of demolition and to preserve existing affordability for as long as possible.

False Creek South Community Housing Trust – RePlan received funding from Vancity Community Foundation to build capacity of our nascent community land trust. This funding has supported engagement with co-op boards and neighbourhood residents, strategic planning, and a business plan. (See the FCS CHT Annual Report for more details)

External

In 2024 RePlan worked to establish connections with organizations outside of False Creek South that are focused on affordable housing, good urban design, and green buildings. We also met with our MLA, Brenda Bailey, to discuss the upcoming landowner’s plan and her support for RePlan. Finally, staff attended Housing Central affordable housing conference (with a bursary provided by BC Non-Profit Housing Association via the False Creek South Community Housing Trust).

2025

2025 is expected to see several important pieces of City work related to False Creek South:

The chosen consultants for the landowner’s plan are expected to start in January 2025. RePlan continues to advocate to Council and staff for input into the plan.

A staff report or motion following up on Councillor Kirby-Yung’s March 2024 motion is expected to be presented to Council in late-Q1 or early-Q2 of 2025. We expect to know more about the motion’s direction early in 2025.

Robyn and Sarah will continue reporting on their work and upcoming community issues through Between The Bridges, through the co-op’s Authorized Working Group and the strata group, and at community meetings.