Thursday, December 31, 2015

VanDusen Gardens Festival of Lights

By the time you read this it will likely be too late to visit the Festival Lights which ends today, New Year's Eve. However, you might make it. It's open from 4:30 to 9. Buy your tickets on-line so you don't have to line up. https://ticketstonight.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=3062
In case you don't make it, here's just a tiny fraction of what you missed!     Happy New Year.
I can't help but think some Park Board official asked "Do we have to sell donuts....they're not good for you, and don't reflect well on our efforts to become the greenest city in the world!"

Opinion: A look back at last year and predictions for the next Vancouver Courier December 22, 2015

In June, columnist Michael Geller suggested a need to develop a greater respect for architectural heritage, with more incentives from city hall to keep heritage and character buildings. He predicts the city will follow up, and we can expect zoning changes and design guidelines later in the year.   Photograph By Dan Toulgoet
I have always been fascinated by predictions. 

At the end of 2014, I reviewed my first year as a Vancouver Courier columnist. Popular topics included increasing concern over the loss of character houses, improving the tidiness of the city, whether citizens should have greater say in the planning process, the need for improved transit and the impact of foreign buyers on the cost of housing. I opined that as we looked forward to 2015, these topics would continue to be of interest to readers. Suffice it to say, I was right.

Earlier this month, I reviewed which of my 2015 columns generated the greatest interest and recycled them into a Holiday Greeting Card. You can find it here.

In January, I wrote about the need to fix our broken taxi system by allowing Uber and other ride-sharing services into the city. Rather than fight Uber, I suggested the taxi industry strive to improve our taxi culture.

In February, I offered 12 affordable housing ideas based on a SFU lecture.  This year I will be presenting another 12 affordable housing ideas at an April 6 SFU lecture.

In March, inspired by a tour of Paris with a former Vancouver city planner, my column called for a master plan for our city. Many readers agreed; sadly, Brian Jackson, the city’s director of planning did not. But he’s gone now.

On April 1, I delivered another SFU lecture on 12 great ideas for Vancouver from around the world.
Following the talk, members of the audience made suggestions on how we might make Vancouver a friendlier city and this became the topic for a subsequent column. It included a proposal for Neighbour Day, when we all make an effort to meet our neighbours.

In May, I was distressed by the amount of garbage strewn along the 100 Block East Hastings by street market vendors, and suggested Vancouver needed a good spring cleaning. While I will never know if this column had any influence, later in the year, city council voted to shut down this unsightly mess.

In June, following a Heritage Vancouver house tour, I suggested we needed to develop a greater respect for our architectural heritage, with more incentives from city hall to keep heritage and character buildings. This time I predict the city will follow up, and we can expect zoning changes and design guidelines later in the year.

In July, following a decision by the Ontario government to pass legislation to prevent “phantom bids” from realtors involved with real estate transactions, I suggested that it was time to revise how real estate commissions should be calculated. While most realtors disagreed, a small minority agreed with readers who liked the idea. I predict nothing will happen.

In August, I met UBC’s Dr. Paul Kershaw, a most interesting young man in red shoes. He founded “Generation Squeeze,” a movement to encourage Canadians 25 to 45 to become more politically engaged and increase their influence on future government policies. I think the October election demonstrated that his voice was heard.

In September, following a trip to Saint Petersburg, I reiterated a call for a master plan for Vancouver. One day we will get one, but not in 2016.

In October, I wrote about Roundhouse Radio 98.3 FM, a new community based radio station that hit the airwaves earlier in the month. While most Vancouverites still haven’t heard of it, I predict this will change in 2016.

In November, I returned to the theme of affordable housing and reported on the need for our Metro Vancouver regional government to play a more active role. I predict it will try, but with little success.

At the beginning of 2015, I wrote about the need for a “world class” public New Year’s Eve celebration in Vancouver. I am delighted to report that this year, a public event is happening. Unfortunately, it has had little publicity. For details, go to nyevan.com. I will be there and I hope many of you will be, too. If you see me, I’d like to hear your predictions for the coming year.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season and 2016.
@michaelgeller
- See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/a-look-back-at-last-year-and-predictions-for-the-next-1.2138457#sthash.8j1hpmXp.dpuf

A look back at last year and predictions for the next

Michael Geller / Vancouver Courier
December 22, 2015 10:33 AM
In June, columnist Michael Geller suggested a need to develop a greater respect for architectural heritage, with more incentives from city hall to keep heritage and character buildings. He predicts the city will follow up, and we can expect zoning changes and design guidelines later in the year.   Photograph By Dan Toulgoet
I have always been fascinated by predictions.
At the end of 2014, I reviewed my first year as a Vancouver Courier columnist. Popular topics included increasing concern over the loss of character houses, improving the tidiness of the city, whether citizens should have greater say in the planning process, the need for improved transit and the impact of foreign buyers on the cost of housing.
I opined that as we looked forward to 2015, these topics would continue to be of interest to readers. Suffice it to say, I was right.
Earlier this month, I reviewed which of my 2015 columns generated the greatest interest and recycled them into a Holiday Greeting Card. You can find it here.
In January, I wrote about the need to fix our broken taxi system by allowing Uber and other ride-sharing services into the city. Rather than fight Uber, I suggested the taxi industry strive to improve our taxi culture.
In February, I offered 12 affordable housing ideas based on a SFU lecture.  This year I will be presenting another 12 affordable housing ideas at an April 6 SFU lecture.

In March, inspired by a tour of Paris with a former Vancouver city planner, my column called for a master plan for our city. Many readers agreed; sadly, Brian Jackson, the city’s director of planning did not. But he’s gone now.
On April 1, I delivered another SFU lecture on 12 great ideas for Vancouver from around the world.

Following the talk, members of the audience made suggestions on how we might make Vancouver a friendlier city and this became the topic for a subsequent column. It included a proposal for Neighbour Day, when we all make an effort to meet our neighbours.
In May, I was distressed by the amount of garbage strewn along the 100 Block East Hastings by street market vendors, and suggested Vancouver needed a good spring cleaning. While I will never know if this column had any influence, later in the year, city council voted to shut down this unsightly mess.
In June, following a Heritage Vancouver house tour, I suggested we needed to develop a greater respect for our architectural heritage, with more incentives from city hall to keep heritage and character buildings. This time I predict the city will follow up, and we can expect zoning changes and design guidelines later in the year.
In July, following a decision by the Ontario government to pass legislation to prevent “phantom bids” from realtors involved with real estate transactions, I suggested that it was time to revise how real estate commissions should be calculated. While most realtors disagreed, a small minority agreed with readers who liked the idea. I predict nothing will happen.
In August, I met UBC’s Dr. Paul Kershaw, a most interesting young man in red shoes. He founded “Generation Squeeze,” a movement to encourage Canadians 25 to 45 to become more politically engaged and increase their influence on future government policies. I think the October election demonstrated that his voice was heard.
In September, following a trip to Saint Petersburg, I reiterated a call for a master plan for Vancouver. One day we will get one, but not in 2016.
In October, I wrote about Roundhouse Radio 98.3 FM, a new community based radio station that hit the airwaves earlier in the month. While most Vancouverites still haven’t heard of it, I predict this will change in 2016.
In November, I returned to the theme of affordable housing and reported on the need for our Metro Vancouver regional government to play a more active role. I predict it will try, but with little success.
At the beginning of 2015, I wrote about the need for a “world class” public New Year’s Eve celebration in Vancouver. I am delighted to report that this year, a public event is happening. Unfortunately, it has had little publicity. For details, go to nyevan.com.
I will be there and I hope many of you will be, too. If you see me, I’d like to hear your predictions for the coming year.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season and 2016.
@michaelgeller
- See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/a-look-back-at-last-year-and-predictions-for-the-next-1.2138457#sthash.8j1hpmXp.dpuf

A look back at last year and predictions for the next

Michael Geller / Vancouver Courier
December 22, 2015 10:33 AM
In June, columnist Michael Geller suggested a need to develop a greater respect for architectural heritage, with more incentives from city hall to keep heritage and character buildings. He predicts the city will follow up, and we can expect zoning changes and design guidelines later in the year.   Photograph By Dan Toulgoet
I have always been fascinated by predictions.
At the end of 2014, I reviewed my first year as a Vancouver Courier columnist. Popular topics included increasing concern over the loss of character houses, improving the tidiness of the city, whether citizens should have greater say in the planning process, the need for improved transit and the impact of foreign buyers on the cost of housing.
I opined that as we looked forward to 2015, these topics would continue to be of interest to readers. Suffice it to say, I was right.
Earlier this month, I reviewed which of my 2015 columns generated the greatest interest and recycled them into a Holiday Greeting Card. You can find it here.
In January, I wrote about the need to fix our broken taxi system by allowing Uber and other ride-sharing services into the city. Rather than fight Uber, I suggested the taxi industry strive to improve our taxi culture.
In February, I offered 12 affordable housing ideas based on a SFU lecture.  This year I will be presenting another 12 affordable housing ideas at an April 6 SFU lecture.

In March, inspired by a tour of Paris with a former Vancouver city planner, my column called for a master plan for our city. Many readers agreed; sadly, Brian Jackson, the city’s director of planning did not. But he’s gone now.
On April 1, I delivered another SFU lecture on 12 great ideas for Vancouver from around the world.

Following the talk, members of the audience made suggestions on how we might make Vancouver a friendlier city and this became the topic for a subsequent column. It included a proposal for Neighbour Day, when we all make an effort to meet our neighbours.
In May, I was distressed by the amount of garbage strewn along the 100 Block East Hastings by street market vendors, and suggested Vancouver needed a good spring cleaning. While I will never know if this column had any influence, later in the year, city council voted to shut down this unsightly mess.
In June, following a Heritage Vancouver house tour, I suggested we needed to develop a greater respect for our architectural heritage, with more incentives from city hall to keep heritage and character buildings. This time I predict the city will follow up, and we can expect zoning changes and design guidelines later in the year.
In July, following a decision by the Ontario government to pass legislation to prevent “phantom bids” from realtors involved with real estate transactions, I suggested that it was time to revise how real estate commissions should be calculated. While most realtors disagreed, a small minority agreed with readers who liked the idea. I predict nothing will happen.
In August, I met UBC’s Dr. Paul Kershaw, a most interesting young man in red shoes. He founded “Generation Squeeze,” a movement to encourage Canadians 25 to 45 to become more politically engaged and increase their influence on future government policies. I think the October election demonstrated that his voice was heard.
In September, following a trip to Saint Petersburg, I reiterated a call for a master plan for Vancouver. One day we will get one, but not in 2016.
In October, I wrote about Roundhouse Radio 98.3 FM, a new community based radio station that hit the airwaves earlier in the month. While most Vancouverites still haven’t heard of it, I predict this will change in 2016.
In November, I returned to the theme of affordable housing and reported on the need for our Metro Vancouver regional government to play a more active role. I predict it will try, but with little success.
At the beginning of 2015, I wrote about the need for a “world class” public New Year’s Eve celebration in Vancouver. I am delighted to report that this year, a public event is happening. Unfortunately, it has had little publicity. For details, go to nyevan.com.
I will be there and I hope many of you will be, too. If you see me, I’d like to hear your predictions for the coming year.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season and 2016.
@michaelgeller
- See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/a-look-back-at-last-year-and-predictions-for-the-next-1.2138457#sthash.8j1hpmXp.dpuf

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Gellers 2015 Holiday Greeting Card

In the interest of resource conservation, this year's Greeting Card is made from recycled Vancouver Courier newspaper columns. I hope you can take a moment to enjoy them. Best wishes for a happy holiday season.

Opinion Vancouver Courier: Development open houses should reveal more details



One of the many bird's-eye renderings on display at the Little Mountain Open House. But no new street level views. I think bird's-eye drawings are for the birds.
Development open houses should reveal more details
Story boards and illustrative panels don't reveal enough about look of projects
Given the number of holiday receptions and office parties taking place, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, or Chanukah, or whatever you celebrate this time of year. However, for some strange reason, the past two weeks have also been a time for three City of Vancouver planning department open houses: the proposed redevelopment of Langara Gardens, the much-awaited rezoning proposal for the Little Mountain property, and 555 West Cordova St., the parking lot next to the former CPR Station where the so-called origami tower was rejected earlier this year.

Much will be written about these important developments over the coming weeks and months. However, as I wandered about the open houses, I was troubled. Despite the many elaborate story boards and illustrative panels, I really could not tell what these projects would look like if approved, and wondered how the public could be reasonably expected to comment. Here is what I did find.

The Langara Gardens complex is located west of Cambie Street between 57th Avenue and the lane south of 54th Avenue. In 1987 my company rezoned it for a fourth 18-storey rental tower on behalf of its then owner, the late Morris Wosk. The current owners are Concert Properties, one of Canada’s most respected development companies, and Petersen Group. Their architect is James Cheng, a colleague and friend, who has designed many of the city’s most beautiful developments.

This open house, the second organized by the planning department in a $700,000+ planning process, is to help develop a policy statement to guide the future rezoning of the property. There was a lot of information on display, including three “planning concepts” on which the public was asked to comment. However, two things troubled me.

The three concepts were essentially the same. Each contained a similar amount of development in lowrise (three to six storeys), midrise (up to 20 storeys), and highrise (up to 28 storeys). Moreover, the 3-D drawings and site plan diagrams on display gave no indication what a future development might look like.

If you are questioning whether a 20-storey building is a midrise, you are right. If you are wondering why 28 storeys, city council approved this height for the adjacent Pearson hospital site.

I was more troubled at the Little Mountain open house where the proponent Holborn and its design team has finally submitted a formal rezoning proposal. 

The latest plan calls for 1732 housing units along with an array of community amenities — 234 of the units replace the social housing formerly on the property. While some are criticizing the plan for not having enough social housing, the purchase price, rumoured to be between $200 and $300 million, will be used by the Province to fund other social housing projects.

Many bird’s-eye drawings and diagrams were on display. However, there was nothing to show the public what this development will actually look like when viewed at street level. The planners justified this by saying it is just a rezoning; the detailed drawings can come later. I disagree.

With today’s computer graphics it is surprisingly easy to prepare realistic drawings of how a project will look. The city should ask Holborn and IBI Architects to prepare illustrations, prior to rezoning, so everyone can see how this large development will appear when viewed at street level along Main Street and elsewhere around the site. I am hoping it will look better than when viewed by a bird.

At the 555 West Cordova open house there was no specific building design on display. This time I did not object, since the proponent and city have decided it is important to reach agreement on key design principles for this strategic “Hub” site at the gateway to the waterfront, before designing the building.

However, I worry that any building design that incorporates unused square footage from the CP Station site will be too large for this small, publicly cherished lot. I therefore urge the city to encourage the developer to transfer a significant portion of the building density to its other properties, so that the new building can better fit with its heritage surroundings.

Extensive information about the Langara Gardens and Little Mountain proposals is available on the City of Vancouver website www.vancouver.ca.