To the editor:
Re: "Art Phillips remembered as visionary," April 3
Your article prompted me to write on behalf of the residents of False Creek South. Art Phillips changed the direction of our city; his legacy is one residents in False Creek South are extremely grateful for. His vision transformed our community from an industrial wasteland to the sought-after community it is today.
City planners translated Art Phillip's vision into the physical reality that is False Creek South: the beautiful seawall and gardens culminating in a vibrant public market, a community of mixed income housing, market condos, floating marinas, co-operatives, and rental accommodation. It's a community where walking and cycling are natural responses to the winding pathways along the shoreline and between the buildings. A neighbourhood in close proximity to downtown and the Broadway corridor allows residents to adopt a healthier lifestyle and rely less on their cars.
When inner city neighbor-hoods were dying in many North American cities in the 70s, as the flight to the suburbs intensified, Art Phillips and his council implemented a relatively (for the time) high-density community in the heart of Vancouver.
It was a bold experiment. Despite the risks he and his council took to redevelop False Creek South as an inclusive community, his vision has proved wildly and internationally successful, becoming a blueprint for the future. False Creek South is the embodiment of the current council's goals for affordable housing and Greenest City: expanding the range of affordable and rental housing options; housing a moderate income workforce within the city; encouraging workers to live near their jobs in Central Broadway and downtown; and expanding walkways, bikeways and green space.
Art Phillips' vision for our community has helped to pave the way for False Creek South becoming a modern heritage community.
Kathleen MacKinnon, President False Creek South Neighbourhood Association
