Heritage and the 2018 Mayor and Council Candidates

Kelly Alm
Independent
Integration into larger development.

Maynard Aubichon
Independent
By preserving rental rooms and hotels as well as houses. To me a room is a house. Im trying to heritage the Regal on Granville St 1046 to be exactly correct, it provides homes to about one hundred of the citys poorest people.

Taq Bhandal
Independent
There are certain zoning policies that allow restrictions on architectural style of buildings. If elected, I would like to look into how those policies can be used to employ and illuminate the diversity of ethnocultural communities in Vancouver. For example, with specific policies in place new development in the Punjabi Market area of Vancouver would be green lit if they employed local South Asian artists, architects, and designers to build on the values of that community.

Barbara Buchanan
Independent
We are in a time of change. I believe in constructive consultation so we can have a livable city which includes mixed neighbourhoods that are affordable.

Ted Copeland
Independent
One of the first things I will do is put forth a bylaw for building practices that will state if you are going to tear down an existing entertainment, live venue, stage or movie or any other existing entertainment venue than that venue must be incorporated into the new building, if you refuse to do this than no permits to build will be issued.

Larry Falls
Independent
Rapid change and development may also be a burden to the city if not carefully considered. Restoration of some older structures built on a granite foundation may also be considered. Certain older communities with houses can also be a heritage site if restored without the cost of tearing down and rebuilding.

Hsin-Chen Fu
Independent
We have to protect our city’s heritage as best as we can, even as the city of Vancouver continues to modernize. Because a balance between change and history is needed, I support reviewing and updating the list of heritage buildings every few years.

Justin P Goodrich
NPA
Retaining and encouraging a sense of place and protecting our important historical assets, while also addressing our city’s affordability and other priorities, is definitely possible. Central to our NPA Housing Plan is a commitment to develop a comprehensive City-Wide Plan with a unique plan for each neighbourhood in the city; one that can achieve the delicate balance between change and stability that you reference. Not only does this mean moving away from the insensitive, controversial spot rezonings we’ve seen during the past 10 years under Vision, it also means a return to real consultation with the public, stakeholder groups, and experts – such as those in the heritage community who can speak to the full range of tangible and intangible heritage and historical assets we possess as a common cultural inheritance. We also plan to put a stop the practice of city planning based on developer cash contributions (CACs). City planning needs to be driven by the needs of residents, not development revenues. This will also mean a stop to “one-off” and sweetheart deals with developers. And where local neighbourhoods choose to accept additional density, it will come with real local benefits that improve community facilities and local public spaces – with consistent and transparent criteria for calculating and allocating Community Amenity Contributions. Our full housing platform is available here at the following link: https://npavancouver.ca/housing-plan/.

Colleen Hardwick
NPA
The City of Vancouver once had a legacy of neighbourhood planning, which recognized the individual character of hyper-local areas. Over the last decade, however, its approach to planning has been top-down as opposed to the grassroots-up. Instead of wholesale rezoning that fails to acknowledge the nuance of neighbourhoods, the City should be enabling the ‘missing middle’ comprised of gentle density that can add housing capacity without the land assembly destruction of local character home, which includes heritage management by definition. Values-based heritage is entirely aligned with the values of the “Liveable City” whose ‘highest and best use’ of the land is more than just money.

Jason Lamarche
Independent
Vancouver needs to recognize that all testimonies of Heritage are connected to actual Canadian citizens with human rights. We need to make sure that all development projects include a Heritage impact study to identify, protect, and promote tangible and intangible Heritage assets in Vancouver. These Heritage impact studies need to provide meaningful outcomes for the Canadian citizens that value our combined Heritage assets. This includes steps to prevent development created displacement of local Canadian citizens, First Nations and Urban Aboriginals from their local home and neighbourhood.

Rob McDowell
Independent
I like to think that heritage shows us the soul of our city, and without it we lose our sense of who we are and where we come from. I believe that we can still develop and grow as a city, but that growth is richer and more palatable when we carefully and respectfully incorporate our heritage and culture into it. A ‘sense of place’ is crucial in city building, and as we grow, we must ensure that it is ingrained in everything we build.

Penny Mussio
Coalition Vancouver
Maintaining heritage buildings of value should be the top priority of the city.

Penny Noble
Independent
In my platform this is one of my top identified priorities. I have been identified as the only candidate linking heritage/character to affordabilty. I would like to see incentives from the City for both homes and businesses to retain what we already have, as well as looking at what needs to be added/replaced to create density, yet retain our neighbourhood character and historic assets. Vancouver is all about neighbourhoods and yet they are fast disappearing. For example 1000 character homes are demolished each year, along with rentable suites. The most “affordable home” is the one already built. Allow two secondary suites in these homes, provide incentives to retain these houses. (and these need not be basement suites). As well as laneway homes and for heritage/character homes the addition of strata if applicable. But emphasis on rentable units. For business-tax breaks or taxes on “actual use” not “potential use” and other incentives to retain legacy, local small businesses. (i.e businesses that have had a place in our Society for many years, such as those in Chinatown and other areas, like West Broadway, Main Street, Commercial Drive, being forced out by inappropriate development or taxes.) Retain the older walk up apartment buildings such as in the West End for example, as well as the rental apartments above locally owned small businesses on the ground floor. Instead of replacing them with expensive condos which not only get rid of existing more affordable rentals, but also mean local shops, cafes, businesses are being replaced by multi-nationals and the character and livability of our neighbourhoods is going at a rapid rate. What makes a city/neighbourhood could be called “intangible”- the owner of a shop knowing who you are, being able to walk to local amenities, leafy canopies, small squares where you can connect with people. Also meeting places such as churches that provide opportunity for culture aside from the church itself- a reminder of our history, the stories and people who went before us.

Kelly Alm
Independent
Each heritage site should have a video clip to show past and present.

Maynard Aubichon

Independent
Yes value based heritage to me means preserving homes both hotels and houses.

Taq Bhandal
Independent
I think everyone needs to approach politics through a particular value set or worldview. Mine is as a decolonial, intersectional researcher which means that my interpretation of “values-based” heritage means considering the settler-colonial history of Vancouver. Moreover, to prepare the city for 21st century ways of living sustainably and equitably.

Barbara Buchanan
Independent
I hope to work with Heritage Vancouver and Vancouver Heritage Foundation to educate and support understanding of values-based heritage.

Ted Copeland
Independent
Yes I do and when I am elected I will strongly argue that the HERITAGE and the entertainment found in a city is the life’s blood of that city, it is what gives it heart and soul. For too long our great venues and lesser stages for entertainment and such have fallen easy victims to greedy corporate development. You destroy the HEART of the city and you are left with what we have now, a soulless vacuum. If you look back at the history of this city we were once blessed with an abundance of great venues, sadly we have very few left and it makes me sick

Larry Falls
Independent
Community meetings and media

Hsin-Chen Fu
Independent
Of course, heritage includes cultural aspects as well as historically significant architecture. I would like to invite the heritage society to come to City Hall to share stories about the City of Vancouver’s heritage, and through this communication spread this values-based understanding.

Justin P Goodrich
NPA
Yes. As the policy-making body at the heart of municipal government, City Council sets the tone for the entire public service. City Council has the ability and the obligation to convey the aspirations and wishes of the people and give appropriate direction to City Staff. One very important difference between how an NPA municipal government will conduct itself is our commitment to separate politics from the public service and empower City staff to do their jobs without political interference. This will allow them to innovate and develop creative solutions to Vancouver’s challenges in a responsive, thoughtful way. This commitment is contained in our NPA Transparency & Accountability Plan (see: https://npavancouver.ca/transparency-plan/).

Colleen Hardwick
NPA
Yes. Certainly. Vancouver is not that big a city: only 115 km2 with 120 5-minute walkable catchment areas. The City acknowledges 25 local areas. Each area has its own unique character that is recognizable with long-time residents who can contribute to forward-looking planning and policies. Sadly, over the last 10 years, the City disconnected from its neighbourhoods. To help educate, it is essential for city staff to become engaged with the residents associations, local businesses, and the people themselves. You can’t develop public policy without engaging with the public within each individual area.

Jason Lamarche
Independent
All City of Vancouver planning and policy creation processes will use Jason Lamarche’s new comprehensive Heritage impact studies and action plans to identify, protect, and promote Vancouver’s tangible and intangible Heritage assets.

The City of Vancouver should use Heritage impact studies and action plans to identify, protect, and promote Heritage assets throughout each development process.

2.a) If so, how might you help educate and support this understanding?

The City of Vancouver should promote all Heritage activity through cost-efficient online communications, and through regular real life Heritage events throughout different Vancouver neighbourhoods. Including all schools and learning institutions is another key partnership to help connect our youth to the many different aspects of Heritage that Vancouver has to offer.

Rob McDowell
Independent
Definitely. It may make things a bit more complicated or cumbersome for planners and City staff, but the outcome is more robust and representative of the city we live in. I think most City staff understand the importance of heritage, but there are some who chose not to, or insist that such heritage related concerns are misguided or add too much cost or delays to a project. I would disagree with them and would advocate that we should retain such valuable heritage. Once it is lost, it is gone forever.

Penny Mussio
Coalition Vancouver
I live in a 1920’s house and of anyone, I understand the need for and the value of heritage preservation.

Penny Noble
Independent
Yes it is very important. The first step is making the definition more simple and easy to understand by giving concrete examples of what we mean. For example legacy businesses. What does that mean exactly? Chinatown- it is not just about the buildings, but the history, the spirit, the culture, the way of life. As well as getting public input. The Heritage Society can team up with other like-minded organizations for example and do surveys of members and the public to show public support for this concept. HVS did a great job with its letters about Chinatown that helped stop the 105 Keefer development. It referenced intangible heritage. Cultural values. the fact that the public hearings went for 3 nights and one day shows how many people care about this. But let’s not wait until there is a hearing- let’s get together and educate people and the City staff and new council and mayor how important heritage values are to people. A survey with hard results would go a long way to showing this. I will certainly be leading the charge on this! It is my passion and my track record shows this-as the creator fo the Heritage Vancouver Garden Tour that not only raised funds but much awareness for heritage. It also could be called an “intangible” value as people say they enjoyed the sense of community and visiting a variety of neighbourhoods, not just the gardens.

Kelly Alm
Independent
Direct brainstorming sessions and mind map the results for review.

Maynard Aubichon

Independent
I plan to email them and talk to and email the Heritage Minister Federally Christine Bracker about saving hotels.

Taq Bhandal
Independent
I really appreciate the work of Heritage Vancouver. I especially took great interest in the top 10 endangered sites list. I would like the list to be more inclusive of the diversity of ethnocultural communities in Vancouver. As a councillor, I would draw on the knowledge and support of the heritage community to support the preservation of certain historical sites. This would add to City of Vancouver tourism revenues which could be used to keep the sites in tact and self-sustaining.

Barbara Buchanan
Independent
When elected I will meet with you and other members of the heritage community so we can creatively get involved at the planning and policy level.

Ted Copeland
Independent
The question should be, how is the Heritage community going to engage me? Hopefully the community will realize that my door and ears will always be open to hear worries and fears and ideas and goals, without their support I would not have a direction in which to start the fight, will you step up and take an active role or will you sit silent and expect me to read your minds?

Larry Falls
Independent
Dialogue.

Hsin-Chen Fu
Independent
Please see Question 2.

Justin P Goodrich
NPA
Authenticity is the best way to describe our approach. As noted above, we have made a commitment to developing a comprehensive City-Wide Plan with a unique plan for each neighbourhood in the city. Implicit within that commitment is authentic engagement with the heritage community – and all other stakeholder communities – and making sure the heritage community’s voice is heard, acknowledged, and considered prominently in the City’s planning and policy creation processes.

Colleen Hardwick
NPA
I will personally contact the individuals and groups who have an interest in heritage issues and actively engage them in the planning and policy creation process. That engagement can take a variety of forms including in person meetings, design charrettes, as well as online involvement and collaboration. Once elected, I will get quickly up to speed on the specific heritage-related policies described below:

Jason Lamarche
Independent
Vancouver City Hall should host quarterly Heritage meetings to review issues raised through the public and Heritage NGOs. This will flag all key Heritage issues on a regular basis to ensure that the Heritage impact studies and action plans are effective.

These quarterly markers will allow Mayor and Council to schedule next steps for all outstanding Heritage-related projects such as the Heritage Action Plan, the Heritage Register Upgrade, the Heritage Revitalization Agreement Process, reducing Heritage-related permit processing times, and energy and building code related barriers to retention of existing buildings, Making Room Housing Program and the Broadway Corridor Planning Program, etc…

Rob McDowell
Independent
I would certainly engage Heritage Vancouver and listen to their independent opinion, as well as other related organizations in the city, such as the Vancouver Heritage Commission and the Gastown and Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committees. I would want to be a liaison to these committees.

Penny Mussio
Coalition Vancouver
Preservation of heritage buildings should involve a community based consultation approach.

Penny Noble
Independent
Partnerships with Heritage Vancouver, Vancouver Heritage Foundation , Heritage BC, the Vancouver Historical Society,School Board (heritage schools), Chinatown associations, individual architects, planners, etc, and as noted above, surveys, input from the public. I have a track record of bringing people together to achieve results, such as saving the “little yellow school house” at Gordon Elementary when I was a School Trustee. It is now being used by the community instead of the planned demolition, and has both tangible and intangible heritage value. I created the heritage advisory committee to the Vancouver School Board for example, which included representatives from the City, and various Heritage groups. This was a first, getting everyone in the “room” at the same time so they could understand the issues and challenges from each perspective and work together on solutions. This is a model I would expand.

Kelly Alm
Independent
Development Permit department needs a new building and 300+ career staff.

Maynard Aubichon

Independent
My policy would be to save us in the hotels preserve them and houses. Another policy would be the Heritage Action Plan which creates targets for City Staff and the Feds to follow up on in the creation of Heritage Designations.

Taq Bhandal
Independent
1. Ensure heritage issues take a decolonial, intersectional lens.

2. Work with community leaders to ensure a diversity of voices are heard.

3. Use city powers to create self-sustaining historical sites.

Barbara Buchanan
Independent
Consultation and education are the key to understanding the heritage issue. Working with Indigenous groups and the top 10 you list in the spring.

Ted Copeland
Independent
I have only one priority and that is to see the greatness of this city kept alive, the great venues saved, new venues brought into the mix. I want our classic houses and building kept and restored, as to building codes and such I do not have the knowledge to speak about these things as I have no education in such matters and I am not going to lie to you about that. However I believe the City has ample people with this knowledge and I will learn all I can to ensure that new technology can be incorporated into the restoration of and keeping open many of our old buildings,

Larry Falls
Independent
Preservation of China Town, grants to homeowners in different communities to maintain their older homes, performing arts of various cultures.

Hsin-Chen Fu
Independent
My first priority is for private heritage owners to financially support their heritage properties. Second, I propose waiving foreign buyer tax and/or empty home tax for owners of heritage properties.

Justin P Goodrich
NPA
We will take immediate steps to break the permitting logjam at City Hall. This will not only bring down the cost of building new housing for renters and buyers, it will also speed things up for a wide range of projects that require City permits, including heritage projects.

In terms of building code barriers to the retention of existing buildings: We have committed to a review of the City’s building by-laws and policies to reduce the cost of housing and respect consumer choice. We will also work with the BC government to initiate a review of the provincial building code to make housing construction less expensive and enable architectural innovation.

Likewise, we will work with other levels of government to fund initiatives that highlight the heritage and cultural diversity of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods, including Chinatown and the Punjabi Market. Understanding and celebrating the uniqueness of each neighbourhood in our city is key to being able to strike a balance between change and stability.

It is also important to recognize that small businesses are the heart and soul of our neighbourhoods. That’s why, within the first 100 days in office, we will launch a Small Business Task Force mandated to, among other things, make small business taxes more consistent, predictable, and fair so that small businesses can survive and thrive.

Lastly, we plan to leverage Vancouver’s heritage and cultural diversity to build and strengthen trade relationships. Our neighbourhoods and our history link us to many other parts of the globe. We can draw on this experience and the richness of our cultural communities to strengthen our international partnerships and open new doors to trade and prosperity (see: https://npavancouver.ca/economic-plan/).

Colleen Hardwick
NPA
The top 3 priorities:
(1) reconsider the city-wide blanket rezoning to duplex with a proper pubic consultation process with character retention options;
(2) improving the zoning and building code bylaws to be more sympathetic to renovation and retention of existing buildings, and;
(3) improving and making HRA process more efficient and easier to navigate.

Jason Lamarche
Independent
As Mayor of Vancouver, Jason Lamarche has the following Top Three priorities related to Heritage issues:

1.] Set calendar for quarterly Heritage meetings at Vancouver City Hall. Identify key Heritage stakeholders for the first official meeting.

2.] Create comprehensive Heritage Impact Study format through public consultation and partnership with local Heritage NGOs.

3.] Jason Lamarche will stop the removal of the Georgia Viaducts, partly as a matter of protecting local area tangible and intangible Heritage assets.

The City of Vancouver should produce a short-film each year to celebrate and update all Vancouverites with current Heritage projects, challenges, and future heritage sites. This fun and informative film can be viewed at local theatres in Heritage spaces and online at Vancouver.ca

Rob McDowell
Independent
I would advocate for heritage friendly building code policies in the city. I would champion a policy for owners of heritage homes who are trying to do the right thing by undertaking voluntary upgrades. I would work to ensure that the permitting process for such heritage upgrades is streamlined and fast tracked.

Penny Mussio
Coalition Vancouver
Ensure preservation of valuable heritage buildings. Inventory the City heritage buildings and designate valuable buildings as important heritage sites. Provide incentives to help owners maintain heritage buildings of value.

Penny Noble
Independent
Yes please share it all!
1. Provide stronger incentives to retain character and heritage houses and buildings and sites, and re-purpose, add to them to create “gentle” density, as well as the walk up apartments above locally owned small businesses- and entire walk up apartment buildings, as well as disincentives such as in the current RT zones that work very well. Put a short term moratorium on demolitions until a proper City Plan is created. Stop spot rezoning.
2. Develop the “legacy” business policy with incentives to keep these businesses, fully and speed it up before all the businesses are gone.
3.Create a broad reaching, representational heritage/character advisory committee to the city that has a much broader mandate than the Heritage Commission. Comprised of a variety of organisations and individuals, similar to the model for the Vancouver School Board heritage advisory committee I created.