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Unfortunately this sentiment against new apartments and townhomes in not uncommon in #NorthVan.
Assumption: Other people from somewhere else move into new apartments and make our lives worse.
Course of action: No new apartments! https://twitter.com/dustinfluff/status/1305361122250207232
Assumption: Other people from somewhere else move into new apartments and make our lives worse.
Course of action: No new apartments! https://twitter.com/dustinfluff/status/1305361122250207232
Just in case you weren’t aware. I am completely opposed to this exclusionary gatekeeper mentality. There are so many things that are wrong with it.
The more I think about this misanthropic mentality and reflect on the amount of times I've heard it in my six years on Council, the more I'm saddened and disappointed by it.
When someone new moves into the neighbourhood, I introduce myself. I bake some banana bread and bring it over with a bottle of wine. I offer to help out if they are moving in and if ever they need something. Those efforts are part what make a livable, healthy, social community.
Can you imagine just moving into your new home when the neighbourhood "welcome" committee stops by?
"Hi, we see you are new here. Would you please complete this questionnaire to help us determine whether you are entitled to be welcomed?"
"Hi, we see you are new here. Would you please complete this questionnaire to help us determine whether you are entitled to be welcomed?"
"Thanks so much for completing our questionnaire!
Hmm, I see you have a baby. That will likely mean crying in the middle of the night. Definite decrease in livability for your neighbours . . . "
Hmm, I see you have a baby. That will likely mean crying in the middle of the night. Definite decrease in livability for your neighbours . . . "
"That baby will grow into a child and might play and make noise at the neighbourhood playground . . . " https://twitter.com/mrmathewbond/status/1288952727804866560?s=20
"I also see you are a family of five and you own two cars. The previous owners were an elderly couple with only one car. They moved nearby so that didn't affect our neighbourhood healthcare rating, but with 3 additional people we'll have to add healthcare strain to your report."
"Two cars is good, but still more than the elderly couple . . .
My family had two cars when we moved here twenty years ago. Thankfully we are long term residents and were grandfathered in because we have four now!
Have you seen how terrible traffic is in the neighbourhood?"
My family had two cars when we moved here twenty years ago. Thankfully we are long term residents and were grandfathered in because we have four now!
Have you seen how terrible traffic is in the neighbourhood?"
Safety? I'm not even sure where to go with that one . . .
"I regret to inform you that your welcome application has been denied. You can appeal our decision to the local community association or wait 5 years to apply to the established residents committee for a waiver until you reach long term resident status."
Having questions about the capacity of community infrastructure or being frustrated with vehicle congestion is natural. https://twitter.com/s__lando/status/1305588898995691524?s=20
My hope is for people to take those concerns and frustrations into perspective before calling for a continued ban on new apartments or townhomes as a "solution"
For context, we live in a safe, politically stable country with a comparably robust social safety net.
Our region has job opportunity, a mild climate with plenty of fresh water and world class amenities.
Our region has job opportunity, a mild climate with plenty of fresh water and world class amenities.
We are extremely privileged to live on the North Shore. The population of the District has barely increased since the early 90's and yet there have been significant investments in community infrastructure over that time.
Our community is one of the safest and healthiest in a region that is one of the safest and healthiest in the world.
Our community has some of the most amazing natural amenities in a region that has some of the most amazing natural amenities in the world.
Our community has some of the most amazing natural amenities in a region that has some of the most amazing natural amenities in the world.
And yes, over the past 5-10 years, the North Shore has started to experience the traffic congestion that was commonplace around the rest of the region 2 or 3 decades ago. Talk to anyone who has lived south of the Fraser . . .
It's important to recognize and acknowledge that extreme privilege that we share living here and before blaming someone else for the issues that frustrate us today ask ourselves a few questions:
"What has changed in my own life that might contribute to these issues?"
Has my household/family aged and now requires more attention from the healthcare system?
Do I drive my children back and forth across town to go to the best school/academy and extra-curricular activities?
Has my household/family aged and now requires more attention from the healthcare system?
Do I drive my children back and forth across town to go to the best school/academy and extra-curricular activities?
Did I tear down and rebuild/renovate my home and hire a dozen contractors from across the region who had to drive over the bridge everyday to get here?
If you've been following me you'll know my thoughts on the causes of many of our current frustrations:
Changes in behaviour by people that already live here.
A long term ban on the types of homes that would allow people with less income and wealth to move here.
Changes in behaviour by people that already live here.
A long term ban on the types of homes that would allow people with less income and wealth to move here.
Different behaviours from those who have the wealth and income to purchase an existing home here compared to previous residents.
A transportation and land use pattern that is designed to create vehicle congestion.
A transportation and land use pattern that is designed to create vehicle congestion.
A growing region coming to access regional natural amenities, partly because they cannot live closer to them.
A growing number of people commuting to a growing number of jobs on the North Shore because they cannot live closer to them.
A growing number of people commuting to a growing number of jobs on the North Shore because they cannot live closer to them.
If you've been following me you'll also know the evidence that our frustrations are caused by the above far outweighs the evidence that it is caused by building a few hundred apartments and townhomes a year.
We live in an amazing, beautiful and safe place full of opportunity. Welcoming people to share in this privilege will make their lives better and will make our community stronger.
Continuing to exclude others in a self imposed siege will lead to the decay of everything we love best about our community as we continue down the path of becoming an enclave for only those with the wealth to live hear.
