West End laneways are the widest in Vancouver, measuring 33 feet compared to most others in the city, which are typically 20 feet. How to take advantage of them is among a host of topics that have emerged during discussions about updating the West End Community Plan.
Community plans address subjects including transportation, land use and development, parks and open space, heritage and culture, sustainability and public amenities and facilities, and guide neighbourhood change over the next 30 years. The city is updating four community plans, including the West Ends.
The median income for West End residents is $38,000, below the citywide median income of $48,000. Half of the residents are between 20 and 39 years of age and 80 per cent of the housing is rental housing it provides 30 per cent of the citys total.
Its doing well providing a great service to the citizens of Vancouver by providing affordable rental housing near a lot of jobs in the central business district, Kevin McNaney, the citys assistant director of planning, told the Courier.
But West End neighbourhood challenges include the need for more affordable housing, particularly for families. McNaney said it has one of the highest densities of children in Vancouver, but it doesnt have many two or three bedroom units. Thats where laneways come in. We are looking at some strategic and surgical infill approaches through lanes. A lot of people complain in the West End that theyre quite ugly and that they could be used better in such a dense area. So what were thinking is these lanes provide an opportunity to generate some of that rental family housing some of the two or three bedroom units in small infills, he said, adding, That rental housing could also provide additional revenue to help the property owners reinvest in the rental buildings.
The subject interests Christine Ackermann, president of the West End Residents Association, who noted the city developed a self-guided laneway tour a link can be found on the citys and WERAs websites.
Theres a lot of opportunity to change the laneways. Of course were looking at Mole Hill laneway as sort of the Holy Grail. Theyve done such a good job, so were trying to learn from what worked well there and what didnt work well, Ackermann said. But Im kind of excited about the opportunity to have some affordable housing specifically for families in the laneways. I think thats exciting because thats the one area of affordable housing in the West End that we dont really have a lot of places for families, three bedrooms. We have a lot of bachelors, a lot of one bedrooms, but not much apart from that. And it would be great to see some families come back into the West End.
Its only one of the issues under discussion. In-depth information about the West End Community Plan can be found on the citys site at vancouver.ca/westend.
Information about the plan will be available at open houses at the Strawberry Festival at Barclay Heritage Square from 1 to 4, June 22 and at Blue Horizon Hotel, 1225 Robson St. from 4 to 7 p.m., June 25.
McNaney said once further feedback is gathered from these events and through online efforts, staff will create the draft plan, which will be revealed to the public in the fall for a final look, and then to council on November for adoption.
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