I spent
the last two days exploring Paris with a former Vancouver city planner. We were
looking for ideas to improve our city. We found some. We also
discovered some good things about Vancouver that Paris needs to copy.
Since the transit plebiscite is top of mind,
there is no doubt that Vancouver could learn from Paris when it comes to public
transit. Their Metro system is extremely comprehensive, with many connections
between the different lines. The stations are attractive; the service is
frequent and efficient.
There is
also an expanding tram system that in some locations runs along a grass
corridor. We thought this would look wonderful along Broadway Avenue.
The big
idea that we both focused on was the benefit of large scale comprehensive
planning. Anyone who has been to Paris cannot help but be impressed with the
grand tree-lined boulevards and master-planning so evident throughout most of
the city.
I say
most since we spent our time in the city centre. Once you get outside of this
area, the Parisian suburbs are not much better than the suburbs of most
Canadian cities. Indeed, they are often worse.
But the
city centre, with its grand edifices and carpet of beautiful mid-rise
buildings, constructed from the same stone, is magnificent.
There are
highrise buildings, some of which are completely out of place, but most are
concentrated in La Defense, the city’s business centre. While many of these
buildings are impressive and shout out “look at me,” at night the area is
deserted.
French
planners need to visit to Vancouver to see how we mix commercial and
residential developments to maintain a more vibrant city centre during the day
and night.
While
Vancouver deliberately did not copy Paris, which destroyed many neighbourhoods
in the 19th century to create its grand streets and neighbourhoods, there is
something to be said for a more coherent approach to city planning.
Over the
past few years, Vancouver has approved new neighbourhood plans along Cambie
Street, in Marpole, and the West End. However,
we have been very shy when it comes to master-planning the city with
established design guidelines.
My
colleague noted that we simply do not have an overall vision for the city.
However, we have often been spot-rezoning when it has been financially
advantageous to do so, and applied a network of somewhat arbitrary view
corridors resulting in some ugly new buildings.
He asked,
do we really still need to see the Lions from the mid-point of the Granville
Street Bridge?
While
views are very important for Vancouver residents, he thinks it is probably time
to reconsider the view corridor policies that most Vancouver residents know
nothing about. I agree.
Another
thing in Paris is its historic focus on celebrating the arts. This is evident
in the number of museums and artists and art vendors on the streets. Sadly
Vancouver, like most Canadian cities, does not hold arts and culture in such a
high regard. Our
artists struggle to find affordable studio space and living quarters, and the
city struggles to fund an art gallery and museum.
While
Vancouver will never be Paris, we need to do more to celebrate the contribution
of art, artists, and other forms of culture to the life of a city.
Another
noticeable difference is the landscaping and gardens. Yes, we have Stanley and
Queen Elizabeth parks and many beautiful residential streets. But just look at
the condition of Kingsway or Broadway or the new median at the south end of the
Burrard Street Bridge filling up with weeds.
One area
where Vancouver is far ahead of Paris is graffiti control. Like so many
European cities, Paris is suffering from graffiti abuse in a most disgusting
way. It’s tragic. Hopefully local officials will realize it’s time for
something to be done. They can learn from Vancouver.
As we
walked around Paris browsing the many street vendors, we could not help but
think they too offer lessons for Vancouver. Yes, we now have food trucks. But
there’s so much more we could do to enhance our street life and pedestrian
experience.
Hopefully
one day Vancouver will become a bit more like Paris. And Paris will become a
bit more like Vancouver.
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