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Luxury
the new
norm

City subsidizes
pricey units in
South Vancouver

= By GABRIELLE PLONKA

\ high-end, sustainable rent-
al development in South
Vancouver is receiving
government subsidization, raising
questions as to how public money
should be spent amid a housing
crisis.

Spire Landing, a 95 rental unit
building being constructed on Fra-
ser and 57th Street, qualifies for
the City of Vancouver’s Rental 100
Program.

Since development costs qualify
for public funding, the units are
able to be rented below market
rates, which in South Vancouver
is $1,730 for a one-bedroom and
$2,505 for a two-bedroom.

The building
will also have Pas-
| sive House cer-
tification, which
requires exten-
sive insulation to
save energy on
heating, as well
as a rooftop gar-
den, lounge with
wrap-around ter-
race, music room,
car charging stations and a gym.

According to Josephine Kwan
from Spire Development, the deci-
sion to build according to Passive
House standards was influenced by
the City of Vancouver's goal to be-
come the greenest city by 2020.

“They believe that this high-per-
formance standard is the future for
Vancouver living,” Kwan said.

According to Tsur Somerville at
UBC's Centre for Urban Econom-
ics, Vancouver's need for affordable
housing can co-exist with luxurious
rental units being developed.

“In theory, environmental sus-
tainability is supposed to be eco-
nomically sustainable too,” Som-
merville said.

Cresencio Paragas rents across
the street from the Spire Landing
site, and worries that luxury rental
options will displace current neigh-
bours.

“T hope the city could also help
the small people who have been
renting for so high for over 10
years,” said Paragas, whose home
is one of four on the block that
were recently placed on the market,
meaning he'll be evicted if it’s sold.

Tsur Somerville
UBC CENTRE FOR
URBAN ECONOMICS

MARCH 15, 2018 * VOL. 49 NO. 13 > VANCOUVER, B.C.

First place doesnt matter.
First position does.

P8

|
|

|

£ | m7 |

VANCOUVER, B.C.: MARCH 6, 2018 - Ballet students share a joke during a brief break in their class. cavERoN THOMSON PHOTO

Recycling made easy(ish

City works with community groups to create collection hubs

= By AGAZY MENGESHA

he City of Vancouver has
partnered with commu-
centres and

nity
post-
secondary in-
stitutions to
make them
into waste col-
lection hubs
for those who
cant make
it to the new
Zero Waste Centre
near Marine Drive Station.
Vancouver Park Board Commis-
sioner Michael Wiebe said the city
recognizes that a lack of transpor-
tation or motivation to travel far
from home often stands in the way

of people practic- —_ he’s
ing proper recy- “ ! * * hope-
cling | We Te... bringing | ;°?",
Not everyone’s recycling closer to th a t
got a car, not ev- _. they'll
eryone’s, going to communities.” be more
rive the way _ preva-
out to South Van,” ieee UMISecOWER BOARD lent and
said Wiebe, add-  L _| perma-

ing that different hubs have orga-
nized to either deliver collected
waste to the new centre or have
a truck from the city pick it up.
“We're lowering barriers by
bringing recycling closer to
communities.”
So far, new agreements
between com-

munity centres,
schools and the park
board are in the pilot
stages, but Wiebe said

nent in the future.

According to Sunny Nestler, the
manager of the AMS Bike Co-op
at UBC, its partnership with the
Zero Waste Centre started with
an engineer from the initiative
approaching the

school

to see if they
could solve the problems
of so many bicycles in Vancouver's
landfill.

“So whenever they get 10 or
12—whatever they think is going
to be a truckload for us of bikes
and parts, they contact our sustain-
ability coordinator and then that
person heads down to the station

for pickup,” Nestler said.

After the bikes
are collected,
they’re brought
to the bike co-op
and refurbished
before re-enter-
ing the commu-
nity.

According
Travis Smith,
communications
manager at Lan-
gara College, the school isn’t in-
volved with the centre because it
was not approached by the city
or park board. The college’s re-
cycling and waste management
process is currently under review
through a public tender process.

“That process may lead to addi-
tional opportunities to collaborate
in the future,” Smith said.

According to Wiebe, the city
encourages schools to set up their
own zero waste committees.

“I think there’s a great oppor-
tunity to expand and ensure that
schools are leading the way because
they’re a place of learning,” Wiebe

said.

4
to Michael Wiebe
PARK BOARD
COMMISSIONER