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| In Europe, I was struck by how many people were out on the water, enjoying picnics in small boats, often rented by the day. |
Looking
back, looking forward
Where did
the year go? It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating New Year’s Eve,
and here we are approaching Christmas.
In
January, I will offer some predictions for the coming year. But this month, I
would like to review some highlights of earlier 2016 columns.
In
January, we received our 2016 BC Assessment tax notices and my first two
columns examined whether it was time
for the provincial government to revise how it classifies residential
properties, rewarding those who live in more compact, sustainable housing
forms.
I also
wrote how many of us can defer paying our property taxes, and was shocked how
many people were unaware those 55+, as well as others, can defer property taxes
at minimal interest cost.
As we
await our 2017 tax assessments, which will result in substantial increases for
many single-family homeowners, you may want to learn more about deferring your
taxes. Just go to the B.C. government tax site here.
In
February, I wrote from London
where I discovered the high cost of housing was forcing many people to commute
long distances to work. But rather than commute daily, they were commuting
weekly, spending the week in a small furnished bedsitting room. I wrote that I
hoped that would not happen here, only to be told it is already happening.
Many of
my subsequent columns looked at different ways to address housing
affordability, a topic that consumed Vancouverites throughout the year.
Some ideas I suggested for investigation
included allowing housing to be built above or alongside light-industrial
developments such as high-tech offices and craft breweries.
I also urged the city to
allow housing along the South Shore of False Creek, where a berm is located
next to West 6th Avenue, and upon a narrow strip of land along Cambie Street,
currently forming part of the Langara Golf Course.
These
properties could accommodate a lot of affordable housing and generate revenues
to fund social housing elsewhere around the city.
In May, I
suggested Vancouverites could learn from the
tragic fires in Fort McMurray. While we are not likely to suffer
from fires, we are likely to be subjected to flooding and earthquakes. I urged
readers to review their insurance policies to see what coverage they had in
place. Government
officials were also urged to think about the need to upgrade the older rental
housing stock, much of which will not survive an earthquake.
Also in
May, I wrote about the results of a significant survey
undertaken by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) in collaboration
with the Conference Board of Canada. It examined how Vancouver compared with 19
other world cities, under a variety of economic and social indicators.
We came
9th, due in large part to our unaffordable housing and the relatively small
percentage of the population aged 25-34.
In a
related GVBOT workshop on housing affordability, it was noted that while much
of Vancouver is zoned for single-family houses, there is a shortage of land
zoned for multiple family housing.
(As an
aside, last week, the president of CMHC also chastised the city for its severe
shortage of land suitably zoned for more affordable housing choices.)
In June,
following a visit to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, I wrote that
Vancouver should make better use of its waterways
for transportation, housing and public enjoyment. I
questioned why we do not have more ferry services around the region, including
a TransLink ferry to UBC.
In
Europe, I was struck by how many people were out on the water, enjoying picnics
in small boats, often rented by the day. Others watched them from the many
waterside restaurants. Many
people were also living on the water in barges, converted live-aboards, and
floating homes like those found at Granville Island and Canoe Pass Village in
Ladner.
I thought
we should better emulate these European cities.
In two
weeks, I will review highlights from other columns. In the meantime, you can
review past columns of any Vancouver Courier columnist by clicking here and typing in the columnist’s name.
michaelarthurgeller@gmail.com
@michaelgeller
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