Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to some of the world’s greatest cities (both for business and for pleasure).
From New York City, to Melbourne, to Montreal, Barcelona, Sydney, and so many incredible places in between, as an urban planner, I continue to learn so much from my experiences in world cities.
There is community in activated public spaces.
Density and diversity of development equates to easeful and safe public transit options.
And—the wide variety of creative solutions different cities have found for high-density housing options.
It’s no secret that here in Vancouver, we’re in the midst of a severe housing crisis.
While no major city can boast a homeless population of zero, it’s with a heavy heart that I’ve had to acknowledge that, our situation in Vancouver is atrocious and —it does not have to be this way.
Other major cities all over the world can and are creating more effective, more innovative, and more compassionate housing solutions.
So, what are we to do?
We need housing supply. We need to redevelop more properties rapidly in order to deliver affordable housing options.
We need to think about how we can be more creative than ever in how we leverage commercial properties, public transit investments, and land with development potential to more quickly develop housing.
This requires that all of the players – government, developers, non-profits, families with land – get involved in projects that result in housing supply.
Yes—if you’re a landholder—it starts with thinking about how you may be able to redevelop your property to:
– Address the housing needs of the community.
– Realize a vision and impact you’ll be proud of.
– Create an ongoing source of revenue.
Questions about how to do this? Not sure where to start?
Watch the reply of my June 2023 workshop here.
To speaking the hard truths and making a difference in any way we can,
❤️ Tegan