Over the past week the North Shore News ran two articles framed within the redevelopment of the former Capwest site and creation of the Village Centre.
In the first article the reporter relied upon comments from a single source and none from those residents most directly impacted by the vacant lots, decline of neighbourhood and lack of local amenities.
Significantly, comments within the first article fail to recognize the critical fact that facilities such as local community centres - as well as other amenities - are only going to be provided through Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) obtained through redevelopment and developers. The DNV does not have the financial means to provide these local amenities without imposing higher taxes across the DNV.
Previously many residents in other areas rejected these same CAC options for their community during the planning of the Marine Drive corridor and will now have a difficulty in obtaining the needed community benefits without a radical readjustment of their thinking about what constitutes a viable and realistic vision for the future for their neighbourhood.
As noted in the second article, clarifying many aspects of the engagement by the Capiloano Gateway community in the planning and process, "There are things to be done. We've taken a realistic approach to things, and we've galvanized the neighbourhood to be something other than the Land of 'No.'"
Read more: August 3, North Shore News "Neighbours laud Cap overhaul"
July 29th North Shore News "Developer Floats Lower Cap revamp"
Monday, 6 August 2012
Thursday, 19 July 2012
Larco massing exercise of July 17 / Bench Session July 21 at Belle Isle Park
The July 17 massing exercise presented by Larco Investments gave the community and developer an opportunity to guage a number of potential building massing options and densities for the proposed Capwest/ Lower Capilano Village Centre.
We will hold a "bench session" at Belle Isle park, Saturday, July 21 at 10;00 AM to allow residents further review and discussion.
Below is a small selection of concept drawings from Wensley Architects, presented at the meeting, for your reference.
We will hold a "bench session" at Belle Isle park, Saturday, July 21 at 10;00 AM to allow residents further review and discussion.
Below is a small selection of concept drawings from Wensley Architects, presented at the meeting, for your reference.
Friday, 25 May 2012
Beets, Bees & Beauty: Advancing Urban Agriculture
“Beets,
Bees and Beauty:
Advancing
Urban Agriculture”
Presented
by
Capilano Gateway Association
In association with
Cool North Shore
& BeeFriendly
Sunday May 27, 2:00–7:00 PM Belle Isle Park*
(*South of Fullerton Avenue,
West of Capilano Road)
A Sustainable Gardening Workshop and Neighbourhood Barbeque
Join us for a Sunday afternoon with
Swedish-trained horticulturist and gardening expert Oskar Eriksson and acquire
new techniques for developing a healthy, low impact garden and get "beefriendly"
with bee keepers from the North Shore Bee Club.
Explore
the beneficial relationship between your soil, healthy plants and honeybees.
Create
new opportunities for successful garden food and community interaction.
Our child-friendly and weather–protected event offers something for all ages!
· Local
opportunities for urban farming and partnerships with local beekeepers
· Sharing
and developing community gardens for food production
· Explore
close up the complex social order and functions of a bee hive
Several
Lower Capilano sample gardens will be highlighted for planting advice and
strategies to invigorate garden spaces without relying on chemicals.
Come for the information,
stay for our beef and salmon barbeque!
Presentations begin 2:00PM / Barbeque 4:30 – 7:00
Workshop is free, barbeque by donation.
For more information
contact:
capgatewayassoc@gmail.com
or 604-985-5621 / 604-904-2409
Sponsored by:
Vancouver Coastal Health Whole
Foods Market
District of North Vancouver/North Vancouver Recreation Commission
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
2012 Annual General Meeting & Constitution
The CGA Annual General Meeting was held on May 9, 2012. Minutes from this meeting are now posted on the revised Constitution and Bylaws page of this blog.
For additional information, feel free to email us at capgatewayassoc@gmail.com
Saturday, 21 April 2012
Making Urban Agriculture a Success
April 21, 2012 from The Sustainable Cities Collective
Urban Agriculture is a movement towards growing and raising more food within densely populated areas of major cities. Today, about 15% of the world’s food is now grown in urban areas. Since space is limited in big cities, you may have noticed city gardens sprouting up in smaller spaces such as balconies or on "green roofs". The link below will take you to a post regarding the growth of urban food production and its relevance to the CGA's upcoming May 27th workshop "Beets, Bees and Beauty; Advancing Urban Agriculture".
Read more about this topic here.
Urban Agriculture is a movement towards growing and raising more food within densely populated areas of major cities. Today, about 15% of the world’s food is now grown in urban areas. Since space is limited in big cities, you may have noticed city gardens sprouting up in smaller spaces such as balconies or on "green roofs". The link below will take you to a post regarding the growth of urban food production and its relevance to the CGA's upcoming May 27th workshop "Beets, Bees and Beauty; Advancing Urban Agriculture".
Read more about this topic here.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Catching the wave: Demographics, Costs and Climate shift living choices; outer suburbs may “lack staying power” - Urban Land Institute
Recently the Urban Land Institute and PriceWaterhouseCoopers released their well-regarded annual analysis, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2010. This report, annually published for the last 30 years, aims to advise the industry "on where to invest, what to develop, which markets are hot, and how the economy, and trends in capital flows will affect real estate." The report also serves as a caution to those home owners fixated on the value of their large suburban homes as being a guaranteed retirement nest egg that must always accrue in value.
The authors, who surveyed over 900 industry experts - investors, developers, property companies, lenders, brokers, and consultants - believe that the public appetite and need for re-adapted development for mixed-use "smart growth" neighbourhoods are much stronger than they are for automobile-serviced suburban sprawl. Many of the report's assessments fully co-incide with the goals for the DNV's own recently adopted 2030 Official Community Plan and its proposals for Village and Town Centres.
Here's an excerpt:
"Next-generation projects will orient to infill, urbanizing suburbs, and transit-oriented development. Smaller housing units-close to mass transit, work, and 24-hour amenities-gain favor over large houses on big lots at the suburban edge. People will continue to seek greater convenience and want to reduce energy expenses. Shorter commutes and smaller heating bills make up for higher infill real estate costs."
Looking at the growing factors affecting lifestyle and housing choices, the report advises investors to "buy or hold multifamily" as "the only place with a hint of hope, because of demographic demand" as a large contingent of echo boomers seek their first homes.
In a section titled "Markets to Watch," the report also advises investors to favor convenient urban office, retail, entertainment and recreation districts where there are mass transit alternatives to driving. Investors are advised to shy away from, among other things, fringe areas "with long car commutes or where getting a quart of milk means taking a 15- minute drive."
"Road congestion, higher energy costs, and climate change concerns combine to alter people's thinking about where they decide to live and work. 'It's a fundamental shift.' The lifestyle cost-of-living equation starts to swing away more dramatically from bigger houses on bigger lots at the suburban edge to greater convenience and efficiencies gained from infill housing closer to work. These homes may be more expensive on a price-per-pound basis, but reduced driving costs and lower heating/cooling bills provide offsets . . . 'near-in suburbs will do well especially if they link to business cores by mass transportation.' Empty nesters and later-marrying echo boomers continue to flock to cities and urbanizing suburban areas. For aging baby boomers, infill apartment or townhouse living means less upkeep and proximity to cultural and entertainment attractions."
All of the above concerns inform the proposed Lower Capilano/Marine Village Centre and the planning implementation being conducted this spring by DNV Planning.
The community consultation and DNV technical analysis work together will inform more detailed design of the Village Centre. It is anticipated the Lower Capilano/Marine Village Centre Implementation Plan will be substantially advanced by mid 2012 and completed by year-end with community consultation occurring throughout the process.
More details can be found at www.identity.dnv.org or by contacting the Lead Project Planner, Tom Lancaster LancasterT@dnv.org
The authors, who surveyed over 900 industry experts - investors, developers, property companies, lenders, brokers, and consultants - believe that the public appetite and need for re-adapted development for mixed-use "smart growth" neighbourhoods are much stronger than they are for automobile-serviced suburban sprawl. Many of the report's assessments fully co-incide with the goals for the DNV's own recently adopted 2030 Official Community Plan and its proposals for Village and Town Centres.
Here's an excerpt:
"Next-generation projects will orient to infill, urbanizing suburbs, and transit-oriented development. Smaller housing units-close to mass transit, work, and 24-hour amenities-gain favor over large houses on big lots at the suburban edge. People will continue to seek greater convenience and want to reduce energy expenses. Shorter commutes and smaller heating bills make up for higher infill real estate costs."
Looking at the growing factors affecting lifestyle and housing choices, the report advises investors to "buy or hold multifamily" as "the only place with a hint of hope, because of demographic demand" as a large contingent of echo boomers seek their first homes.
In a section titled "Markets to Watch," the report also advises investors to favor convenient urban office, retail, entertainment and recreation districts where there are mass transit alternatives to driving. Investors are advised to shy away from, among other things, fringe areas "with long car commutes or where getting a quart of milk means taking a 15- minute drive."
"Road congestion, higher energy costs, and climate change concerns combine to alter people's thinking about where they decide to live and work. 'It's a fundamental shift.' The lifestyle cost-of-living equation starts to swing away more dramatically from bigger houses on bigger lots at the suburban edge to greater convenience and efficiencies gained from infill housing closer to work. These homes may be more expensive on a price-per-pound basis, but reduced driving costs and lower heating/cooling bills provide offsets . . . 'near-in suburbs will do well especially if they link to business cores by mass transportation.' Empty nesters and later-marrying echo boomers continue to flock to cities and urbanizing suburban areas. For aging baby boomers, infill apartment or townhouse living means less upkeep and proximity to cultural and entertainment attractions."
All of the above concerns inform the proposed Lower Capilano/Marine Village Centre and the planning implementation being conducted this spring by DNV Planning.
The community consultation and DNV technical analysis work together will inform more detailed design of the Village Centre. It is anticipated the Lower Capilano/Marine Village Centre Implementation Plan will be substantially advanced by mid 2012 and completed by year-end with community consultation occurring throughout the process.
More details can be found at www.identity.dnv.org or by contacting the Lead Project Planner, Tom Lancaster LancasterT@dnv.org
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Hey! While you're up, get me another planet / Ray Cole and Jack Diamond on rethinking our cities
Two architects, one speaking to our capacity crowd at the final "Big Bench Session", the second writing in the Globe and Mail, outlined the ways in which the form of our cities run counter to sustainability in terms of natural, social and financial systems.
In his presentation "We Make Buildings/Buildings Make Us: Looking Beyond Green", UBC's Dr. Ray Cole outlined the ways that our current building forms and zoning bylaws waste precious energy, lessen productivity and promote social alienation.
Ranging from the macro aspects of climate change affecting Inuit hunting traditions, to the need for local systems that re-establish natural resiliency, Dr. Cole illustrated the unbalanced consumption of world resources fostered by the western lifestyle.
Writing in the Dec. 2nd Globe & Mail, Jack Diamond's "The gravy in land use and density" reveals the underlying problem of low density housing that we in the District of North Vancouver have come to recognize: "...municipalities in which the predominant land use is that of single families or other low-density forms of accommodation find that real-estate taxes simply con't meet the cost of providing hard (street lighting, garbage pickup etc.) and soft (libraries, parks etc.) services, To continue building cities in this way can only plunge municipalities even deeper into debt."
In tackling the financial deficiencies underpinning our suburban form, Diamond arrives at a similar solution to Dr. Cole: the need for breaking the rigid stranglehold of zoning bylaws. Integrating work, commercial and residential activities will lead to a lower carbon footprint, an improved and more efficient infrastructure, more healthy people walking and opportunities for people to shed their automobiles.
Coming from two different perspectives, Diamond and Cole illuminate the need for change and show why, in fact, there is no alternative if we are to retain any long term viability and vibrancy for our urban and suburban spaces: "Besides increasing debt, there'll be more sprawl and needless consumption of agricultural, recreational and conservation land, yet longer commuting times, lower productivity, less efficient emergency services, more pollution and a diminished quality of life."
In his presentation "We Make Buildings/Buildings Make Us: Looking Beyond Green", UBC's Dr. Ray Cole outlined the ways that our current building forms and zoning bylaws waste precious energy, lessen productivity and promote social alienation.
Ranging from the macro aspects of climate change affecting Inuit hunting traditions, to the need for local systems that re-establish natural resiliency, Dr. Cole illustrated the unbalanced consumption of world resources fostered by the western lifestyle.
In tackling the financial deficiencies underpinning our suburban form, Diamond arrives at a similar solution to Dr. Cole: the need for breaking the rigid stranglehold of zoning bylaws. Integrating work, commercial and residential activities will lead to a lower carbon footprint, an improved and more efficient infrastructure, more healthy people walking and opportunities for people to shed their automobiles.
Coming from two different perspectives, Diamond and Cole illuminate the need for change and show why, in fact, there is no alternative if we are to retain any long term viability and vibrancy for our urban and suburban spaces: "Besides increasing debt, there'll be more sprawl and needless consumption of agricultural, recreational and conservation land, yet longer commuting times, lower productivity, less efficient emergency services, more pollution and a diminished quality of life."
- excerpt from Strong Towns Blog
"Since the end of World War II, we've been so wealthy and had so much growth that, for most parts of the country, the productivity of our places did not matter much. If it created a job, it was good. If it brought in a new business, it was good. We didn't ever pause to worry about what happens when the maintenance bill comes due.
Those bills are due now, and more are arriving each day. We don't have anywhere near the money to maintain so many unproductive places. What we face is a choice between a chaotic reset or a strategic contraction -- one where we intentionally divert our limited resources into those endeavors that are most productive while we seek -- block by block and neighborhood by neighborhood -- to improve the productivity of our places."
Those bills are due now, and more are arriving each day. We don't have anywhere near the money to maintain so many unproductive places. What we face is a choice between a chaotic reset or a strategic contraction -- one where we intentionally divert our limited resources into those endeavors that are most productive while we seek -- block by block and neighborhood by neighborhood -- to improve the productivity of our places."
Monday, 7 November 2011
The inconvenient truth lying at the bottom of our aging population
An article by Jeffrey Simpson in the Nov. 5th Globe and Mail (Link here) outlines the problem intrinsic to Canada's aging population: costs will increase, while revenue growth will decline.
Aging will drive up costs for health care (already the greatest financial obligation of government budgets) and income support for the elderly. At the same time national income will slow as a vast number of baby boomers slip into retirement.
The problem is carefully explained in a study by Christopher Ragan, a public policy economist at McGill University. If taxes remain the same while spending rises there will be "an ever-widening yearly gap" between revenues and expenditures from today until at least 2040.
The choices become either raising taxes or reducing spending or borrow the money. Borrowing will burden future generations and is the least responsible, although the easiest political option.
Given the inconvenient truth lying at the base of the problem there are only two remedies at hand; raising taxes or significantly changing the scope and structure of public programs and policy. There is in actuality no other option.
This knowledge is essential for DNV Council (and other levels of government) to retain as a central point of reference as we enter this critical confluence of a rising aging population and declining revenues.
This knowledge is also an essential point of departure for DNV residents to retain in setting priorities for their communities' viability and their expectations of DNV politicians' abilities to deliver amenities and services at an affordable price.
Aging will drive up costs for health care (already the greatest financial obligation of government budgets) and income support for the elderly. At the same time national income will slow as a vast number of baby boomers slip into retirement.
The problem is carefully explained in a study by Christopher Ragan, a public policy economist at McGill University. If taxes remain the same while spending rises there will be "an ever-widening yearly gap" between revenues and expenditures from today until at least 2040.
The choices become either raising taxes or reducing spending or borrow the money. Borrowing will burden future generations and is the least responsible, although the easiest political option.
Given the inconvenient truth lying at the base of the problem there are only two remedies at hand; raising taxes or significantly changing the scope and structure of public programs and policy. There is in actuality no other option.
This knowledge is essential for DNV Council (and other levels of government) to retain as a central point of reference as we enter this critical confluence of a rising aging population and declining revenues.
This knowledge is also an essential point of departure for DNV residents to retain in setting priorities for their communities' viability and their expectations of DNV politicians' abilities to deliver amenities and services at an affordable price.
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