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Life (in Vancouver) is a Bowl of Granny Smith Apples.

Posted by crunchy | May 19, 2007 .

I always enjoy Mr. Kissinger’s columns in our Vancouver Courier. I think he has a great view (if not a tad skeptical) of our fair town and the folks in it.

His column in the Wednesday issue looks at what it means to be ‘urban.’ Or what ‘urban’ living is all about.

To live in Vancouver (if you read the Sun’s WestCoast Home section) is to be either single or married/common law with no kids and no stuff.

According to the Vancouver Sun, this is spreading out to the boroughs…so watch out suburbanites…the tiny condo’s and lofts are heading your way.

I have this vision of Vancouver becoming this landscape of glass towered streets dotted with starbucks, video stores and Urban Fare’s. Gone would be the historic old homes, and tree lined streets circling community parks and schools. Parks would be green spaces where you could jog. And speaking of jogging…..there would be a few rebels who decided procreate. Those with the ‘jogging’ strollers…those firmly stopping at ONE child so they can STAY in their cool urban condos.

Now, I have nothing against people choosing to not have kids or to own these lovely little apartments.

But I just wonder at a city hell bent on focusing on ONE lifestyle and ONE type of housing.

The City of Vancouver seems to have noticed this too…but they don’t seem to know what to do about it.

They have come up with this concept of ECODENSITY. From what I can surmise, they want families to live in Vancouver, but in much smaller spaces, but feel good about this.

Why do I think they are NOT talking to the folks in Shaughnessy? Why do I think this is marketed towards us middle class shlubs in East Van?

The other thing that troubles me about this ‘plan,’ is that the literature that they are chucking at us about this new concept is that they don’t actually know what it means and want US to tell them.

How about just building a city that recognizes the diversity of it’s occupants. Not only that, but the NEED for diversity. Diversity of cultures, incomes, education, etc.

A city needs all types to sustain itself.

This city will die without a broad mix of people and businesses.

How about designing a city plan that is not purely focused on 2010 and the image they want to project to the world for two short weeks?


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3 Comments so far
  1. smalltown RN May 20, 2007 7:59 am

    Oh right on crunchy….I grew up on the mainland spent 43 of my 45 years there…the changes and trends that I see make me cringe. I am not saying we should all live in monster homes like those in Shaughnessy…actually the older Shaugnessy homes bring alot of cultural diversity to the city and teach us about our history and architecture.

    What I find disturbing is the concept of “concrete living” bringing children up in highrises. The bluiding planners idea of green space is some turf around the building and a couple of trees here and there. How can you raise a child in a building that is not designed for children…there are no play areas, the building iself is often on the corner of some busy street. Where can you take your child to play. Then you have to jump into your vehicle load the kids and thier multiple paraphonalia into the car and drive to some beach or park that is over crowded…no parking…because hey…we aren’t suppose to use our cars…oh it is a vicious circle we are weaving.

  2. Quiltie May 20, 2007 3:36 pm

    i’ve even noticed that out here. so many more condos are being built compared to townhouses. we lived in a condo for 7 months when we first got married-we hated it. having a balcony is not the same thing as having a yard(how ever little!) to sit out on, no places to place and they are always on busy streets like RN said.

  3. B May 22, 2007 9:39 pm

    it is silly. my co-workers and i were discussing it today… this place is getting stupidly designed and waaaay over priced.

    there are concrete cities in this world, many with families… but typically designed with this is mind. not cookie cutter 500 sq suites. there are not enough local small parks and children areas (whatever happened to jungle gyms?) to off set the lack of yards when building these strata lots. it is always geared to DINKS (double income no kids).