It is now about three years since the Grandview Community Plan was bludgeoned through City Council by the pro-development Vision majority. For some while thereafter, it seemed to result in only minor effects on the ground. However, below the surface, seismic events were building up a head of steam.
Almost immediately, realtors and developers had started to plan for their new future. As I noted back in 2017, large numbers of Grandview properties were being offered — at hugely inflated prices –“for assembly” by developers. This had an undoubted effect on the house price inflation that has plagued Grandview until the market correction earlier this year.
Then the proposals started piling up. First, the outrageously incongruous Boffo Tower at Commercial & Adanac was approved, against broad community opposition, for 12 storeys. We have only been saved from that disaster by the developer’s refusal to proceed without even greater heights of absurdity, and the current softness of the luxury condo market.
This has been followed by projects on Grant Street, at First & Clark, at Nanaimo & Charles, on E. 11th Avenue, on East Hastings, at Lakeview Church, and at the Safeway site at Commercial & Broadway.
top left: Lakewood; top right Charles & Nanaimo; bottom left E. 11th; bottom right E. Hastings
Top left First & Clark; top right Boffo Tower; bottom left Grant Street; bottom right Safeway site
Do any of these look anything like the neighbourhood we know and love?
My concern is that the avalanche has barely begun.
Jak's View of Vancouver v.3 