The
District, Lido, Majestic On Main, Meccanica by Cressey, and The Rize are a few
titles which have been given to the newest development projects slated for
construction on the north side of Vancouver’s popular Main Street. What
functions to some residents as a vibrant and passionate community is simply a
transportation hub for many others in the area, and as large-scale condos and
apartment complexes continue to push their way out from downtown core into the
less densely populated areas of the city, advocates for stronger communities and
social housing have spoken out in force regarding what some are referring to as
the monoliths of Main Street.
The
Rize development project, which would occupy the entire west corner block of
the Main & Kingsway intersection, has residents of this community divided
on the issue of sustainability versus community, and growth versus culture.
Originally projected as a 26-storey high rise in 2007, the aptly named Rize
project has quickly been reduced to a 19-storey complex after members of the
community spoke out about the vastness of a 260-foot tall building placed in the
center of a part of the city known for its low traffic and hip culture.
“We
feel high-density development in this location, with such good accessibility to
transit, merits a higher form of development. So, we thought that 19 storeys
was a reasonable fit for the site,” said city planner Matt Shillito in an
interview with the Vancouver Sun.
And
he's not alone in this belief: advocates for sustainable city planning
practices claim that vertical building is the answer to urban sprawl, and this
is clearly the case with the 421 additional apartments that would be added to
the area upon the completion of the Rize project.
“In
conformance with the Mt. Pleasant Community Plan and alongside the city, we
submitted our rezoning application in 2010 for the original 26-storey building,”
says Christopher Vollan, Vice President of Rize Alliance Properties. “On
request from city staff we reduced the building plan from 26 storeys to 19
storeys. The only modification since then was the removal of the artist
amenities space as requested by the city [instead giving] a cash donation to
the area which worked out to $6.25 million.”
One
of the most debated issues since this revisal of the building plan has been the
artist spaces, although city council feels the money could be better spent
elsewhere.
“Most
of the concern from the opposition comes from the community plan itself and three
other identified sites that could become high-rise or high-density,” says
Vollan regarding the outcry of disapproval from a large part of the community.
The
Mt. Pleasant community plan itself does call for restriction on many high-rise
buildings but condones them in certain areas: “Mostly low to mid-rise
buildings, high-rises only on selected sites. Emphasize infill opportunities in
achieving density objectives.”
“What
we want to see is visible positive change with the funds provided going towards
the community,” says Vollan on where the $6.25 million would go. “We would have
preferred to keep the artists space, but the money is in the city's hands now
and we have no say what is done with it.”
Although
where this donated money will go in the community is yet to be determined, Ivan
Drury of the Carnegie Community Action Project, a housing activist group, would
very much like to see the money donated by Rize go to more social housing.
“CCAP
wants all three levels of government to build social housing in every
neighbourhood in Vancouver. Every neighbourhood, even the richest, has
low-income people, low-wage workers, women fleeing abuse, people grappling with
addictions and other health issues, and every neighbourhood needs social
housing,” he explains.
Drury
also warns of the effects high-rise development could have on surrounding areas
the proposed high-rise: “Immediately to the east of the Rize project are blocks
and blocks of apartments where a lot of low-income families, low-wage and
irregular workers, racialized migrant people, and Aboriginal people live. Those
blocks are some of the only places where some people are able to leave the
Downtown Eastside and find housing.”
He
adds, “I'm afraid that these apartment blocks may be eyed with interest by
speculators and investors if Mt. Pleasant becomes attractive to condo
developers.”
With
the public hearings still under way at City Hall, it is unclear what city
council will do regarding the outcome of the Rize project. With a clear and
urgent outcry from a large majority of local residents, the project's future is
still uncertain. Public hearings regarding The Rize continue at City Hall on
Mar. 27 at 7pm local time, and can be viewed live via City Hall's website.
//Colin Spensley, columns
//Photograph by Jason Jeon
//Colin Spensley, columns
//Photograph by Jason Jeon
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