Nine years of public policy put aside in False Creek South as public process goes in-camera
Coast Salish Territories | February 25, 2021 — Richard Evans, Chair of the RePlan Committee of the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association, an organization created by the City of Vancouver when the housing experiment began in the 70s, made the following statement in regards to the ongoing citywide public consultation about False Creek South:
“This is the first time the City of Vancouver has set out, with a real estate perspective, to determine the use of City-owned lands where there are existing homes—and we are concerned with the precedent being set.
“The City-led public initiative that has been underway in February will feed into in-camera decisions, creating a real estate vision for public lands from behind closed doors.
“Interestingly, it was nine years ago – this week – that public policy was unanimously approved by Vancouver City Council to address leases in this community. Little progress has been made on that policy, leaving some low and moderate income residents with as few as 10 months left on their lease.
“It is also two years since a comprehensive and collaborative year-long public consultation for False Creek South ended, a consultation which provided direction for the future use of these City-owned lands. That initiative was also led by the City, with participation from many departments, including Planning, Real Estate and the City Manager’s Office; the latter two departments are leading this month’s engagement.
“Whether intended or not, the residents in this community are back to square one, except that they have increased housing insecurity due to much shorter lease terms.
“False Creek South needs to grow. A fiscally responsible way to achieve that is with long-term lease renewal. Initial modeling shows these lease payments will generate at least $250 million in revenue, which the City can invest in new non-profit, supportive and social housing, including for people who have experienced homelessness, by way of doubling the density in the area, while also restoring the eroding affordability of existing housing.
“In fact, modeling figures show that lease renewals provide the City with more revenue, more and deeper affordability, and with less risk than any form of demolition and replacement.
“To do otherwise would make the housing crisis worse.”
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About housing on leased land in False Creek South
There are:
4,000 residents
6 co-ops (573 units)
4 market-rate rental (124 units)
6 non-profit rental, including an assisted-living facility, a facility for people with disabilities and supportive care homes for more than 450 seniors, most of whom are low income
13 stratas (669 units)
52 temporary modular units for people who have experienced homelessness
17% of co-op households earn less than $30,000/year
51% of co-op households on leased City land in False Creek South have incomes below $60,000/year, and this includes many seniors
About RePlan
RePlan is the planning committee of the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association (FCSNA), the members of which are all of the leasehold strata and co-op enclaves in the area, as well as freehold enclaves, and which have financed the Association’s work and appointed delegates to its monthly meetings for 45 years.