Every Building on 100 West Hastings

I have been reading quite a few articles from the book "Every Building on 100 West Hastings" edited by Ruth Shier. It is published by the Contemporary Art Gallery (Vancouver) and I believe it was released in conjunction with the work by Stan Douglas (local artist/photographer) of the same name. This block of Hastings (directly across from the new Woodwards redevelopment) was touted in 1998 as "the worst block in Canada" by one reporter. Its boarded up windows and decrypted facades stand (barely) as a symbol of the despair of the entire Hastings area and the lack of investment/concern for this area since the early 1990s. This book has some great articles by many important sociologists/geographers about the history of the area and the affects of gentrification. I have become particularly interested in how zoning (especially protective zoning like heritage districts) affects the structure of the city. The book also highlights how Vancouver has dealt with urban renewal projects (Project 200) and other world events (Expo 86) which, unfortunately, suggests that how we are not handling the Olympic construction much better.

July 26 - The Georgia Straight

Coincidentally, the Georgia Straight has come out with a few great articles on Housing Solutions, just as my blog is ending. The cover of this edition depicts a rather sad looking character cramped into the stump of a hollowed out tree, squished in with all his earthly belonging. A bewildered an annoyed squirrel watches over. The analogy doesn’t seem so silly these days. One of the articles (by Charlie Smith) provides some insight into the Little Mountain Housing complex. It is a 6 hectare site (quite a large piece of land by today’s standards) at 33^rd and Main St that is slated for redevelopment. The site will be redesigned to includes hundreds more units, both of market and non-market housing. The city can then use the profit to fund other social housing projects. While I think there intentions are good (increase densification, increase capital for more projects, provide more social housing) they are going about the development all wrong. Rather than develop the project in phases (which is quite possible given the scale of the site), all the residents are forced to move out at once. They are being relocated across the city. So while the project is under construction (which will take a few years), children are forced to switch schools, people will have to commute longer distances, and seniors will have to arrange travel for medical attention. It seems to me, that if we want to provide housing, we should not have to evict people from their homes in order to do it.

Yikes! Almost a Month

Well, it has been a little more than a month since by last blog entry. And upon realization of the fast approaching deadline, I figured it was about time I posted some comments about what has been in fact a month worth of reading. I have also been taking an Urban Sociology course which has provided some different perspectives on the same issues presented in our textbook. This has made for a fascinating and well-rounded reading list. So, over the next few days, as I simultaneously write my essay, I will expand a bit on the material I have been collecting an reading over the last few weeks in support of my research into the DTES, housing affordability, homelessness, and gentrification.