Vancouver Plan will help build a more affordable, equitable and vibrant future for all of us
Vancouver, BC; July 22, 2022 – The following is a statement from Mayor Kennedy Stewart following the approval of the Vancouver Plan – a long-range, land-use strategy that will guide development and city planning to 2050:
“Today, with the passing of the Vancouver Plan, we are charting a new path forward for the future of our city, guided by the promise of making every neighbourhood more affordable, equitable and vibrant for everyone. I am especially proud that Council supported my call to put renters first and work to expand the strongest renter protections in Canada city-wide.
We’re a city of renters, and all of us deserve the opportunity to live a great life in any neighbourhood. The Vancouver Plan will expand housing choice and create new opportunities in parts of the city that have been largely off limits today – all without displacing long-time renters.
The Vancouver Plan will help us accelerate our housing goals, build walkable communities, support small businesses, and make our entire city more family-friendly. It’s about building a Vancouver that is better connected with easier access to amazing schools, parks and community centres, groceries, restaurants, healthcare, shopping and all the other things that make life here so special.
In essence, this is a plan to build a Vancouver for all of us, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
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In an interview with CTV News about its approval, Mayor Kennedy Stewart described the plan as being "guided by the promise of making every neighbourhood more affordable, equitable and vibrant."
"Anybody should be able to rent in any part of the city and everybody should have an opportunity to buy in any part of the city,” Stewart said.
The plan sets in writing the goals of affordable housing options in walkable communities, according to the mayor.
Focuses include the city's "underutilized neighbourhoods," as well as increases in multi-family housing and more rental units on the market.
“There’s a lot of this city, say south of 16th (Avenue) that has been locked in for single family homes for a very long time,” Stewart said. “Vancouver Plan will change that and provide more rental and purchase opportunities.”