On May 17, Ray Spaxman (Former GM Planning, COV), Chris Baas (Services Review Team, COV) and Ben Johnson (Planning, COV) joined RePlan’s Richard Evans (Chair, RePlan & Evans Architects), Graham McGarva (Alder Bay Housing Co-op & VIA Architecture) and Sharon Yandle (President, FCSNA) in a panel discussing how to Reinvent the Urban Legacy of False Creek South.
Photo taken by Ray Spaxman (1975)
About 180 people took a trip back to False Creek South’s origins, learning of the ethos that inspired the development in the 70’s as told from the point of view of its first planner, Ray Spaxman.
False Creek South’s unlikely and inspiring success became known among architects and planners around the planet for its many achievements in community building through innovative design and groundbreaking policies. While it has demonstrated considerable social, economic and environmental resiliency over time, attendees certainly got to hear of the current day conundrum.
Within the next 25 years, the City of Vancouver-owned leases for a majority of the False Creek South lands will be subject for renewal. RePlan’s speakers highlighted the opportunity to build upon a unique legacy – and to once again work with the City of Vancouver to re-imagine what this existing dense, affordable, family-friendly neighborhood could look like in the 21st century.
RePlan will continue to work to reinvent this legacy in collaboration with the friends and supporters of this outstanding community in the months and years to come. To read more about the work of RePlan click here: www.falsecreeksouth.org/replan