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