Posts from — April 2009

Despite last week’s media fuss about the City of Vancouver’s Olympic accommodation “cash grab,” which would require most homeowners to seek a $150 business licence to rent for terms of less than 30 days, I have only a single e-mail in protest. (The full report is here, item 10.)

Nonetheless, I offer this brief review of the key elements of the proposal to clear up any lingering confusion:

Q. Why is the city miring homeowners in this red tape?

A. Actually it is currently illegal to rent for less than 30 days unless you operate a hotel, bed and breakfast or single-room accommodation building. This relaxes the law and reduces red tape by eliminating the prohibition on short-term rentals. It will not override strata or co-op rules. Homeowners renting a single room to two people or fewer won’t require a licence at all.

Q. Why is the city requiring a business licence?

A. This is in line with current rules for people renting for more than 30 days. About 10,000 have taken out these licences. For these homeowners, the fee is $108. A higher fee is proposed here because the city cost of administration will be higher. This is intended to be revenue-neutral.

Q. Why bother?

A.  If you have a business licence, you will be briefed on the guidelines for safety and so forth. If your neighbours later complain, you will be covered.

Q. What problem is the city trying to solve?

A. Just four days ago, the IOC expressed concern about the shortage of rooms in the region. Relaxing current regulations will bring more rooms onstream, easing pressure on hotels, allowing some residents to benefit from the Games financially, and reducing the likelihood that residents in existing low-cost accommodation will be displaced.

Q. With some homeowners reported seeking as much as $1,500 a night, is the real cash grab happening at City Hall or in the community?

A. That’s a fair question. Probably those folks are just passionate about sharing in the excitement of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Beautiful weather, good promotion and pent-up demand for a spring cycle combined to make this year’s Pacific Populaire the largest ever by a wide margin. The 25, 50 and 100-kilometre rides start and end at Riley Park Community Centre, but this year’s start had to be delayed 30 minutes because the registration tables were overwhelmed. Organizers told me more than 500 turned out, at least 100 more than the previous best.

Both the 100 and 50-kilometre routes reach their half-way point in Richmond at the Scout Camp at the east end of Dyke Road. Volunteers there were ready with lots of Gatorade, cookies, bananas and banana cake for the cyclists. Notable feature of the event: no corporate sponsors, not a one. (We did 50k.)

Lined up down the block to register for the Pacific Populaire.

Vision Vancouver marchers (left to right) Heather Deal, Tim Stevenson, Geoff Meggs, Jan O'Brien and Gregor Robertson.

It was hard to tell from the middle of things, but it felt like about 2,500 people marching along Georgia St. today to the Vancouver Art Gallery to demand government action to confront the housing crisis. The largest group converged on Burrard and Georgia from the Hastings and Main starting point, but those of us who left from Peace Flame Park were a respectable crowd and the temporary closure of the northbound lanes on the Burrard St. Bridge went without a hitch.

Woodwards towers, April 2, 2009

Gilbert Morven, right, with (left to right) Westbank's Ian Gillespie, architect Gregory Henriquez and Gary Jobin of Bladerunners.

In a hectic 60-minute tour of the Woodwards project today, organized by developer Ian Gillespie and architect Gregory Henriquez for Premier Gordon Campbell, Mayor Gregor Robertson and city councillors, the most important speech was made by construction worker Gilbert Morven.

A member of the Nisga’a Nation, Morven is one of 18 Bladerunners working on the project who began as a trainee and begins work tomorrow as a crew lead hand.

Bladerunners takes street youth, often aboriginal, and supports them to undertake jobs in the construction industry.

Morven told the visitors of how the job, which he started “when it was just a hole,” has changed his life.

As a result of his time with Bladerunners, Morven hasl eft behind a very bad period. He still has little money, because he’s retiring his debts, but expects to qualify soon as a rebar worker with Red Seal certification. “After that, my wage bumps up and I’ll be happy as hell.” The VIPs burst into applause.

The experience has been so transformative that Morven has begun reaching out to other aboriginal young people who could benefit from his story and the program. It was a small example of the changes former councillor Jim Green, who was also on the tour, has always promised could flow from thoughtful development.

My favourite shots from the tour, including views from the roof, here.