Housing is the critical issue in the City of Vancouver municipal election this year. Abundant Housing Vancouver sent a questionnaire to all candidates inquiring about their policies to address the housing shortage. We wish to thank all the candidates who responded. While we are expecting more responses to come in soon, we've received enough to warrant publishing those received thus far. Check back soon for more entries!

Responses we have received from independent candidates running for Mayor are posted in full below:

Jump to a Candidate:

• Mike Hansen
• Gölök Z Buday
• Satie Shottha
• ROLLERGIRL
• John Yano
• Kennedy Stewart

Other Responses:

• Parties for Council/Mayor
• Independents for Council

Mike Hansen

1. The City of Vancouver prohibits apartment buildings on more than 75% of the city’s residential land via zoning. Do you support entirely or significantly eliminating the ban on apartment buildings in residential areas of the City of Vancouver?

As mayor of Vancouver, I'll veto the decisions and enactments made by my predecessor. 

2. Will you commit to enacting policies to increase the rental vacancy rate in Vancouver to at least 3%? If so, which policies would you enact?

The 1st paragraph of my platform @ https://vancouvercitycrime.ca/ mentions a 'poverty tax' to fund a new building boom for Seniors, Low-Cost and Social Housing Projects, starting late Oct. 2018.

3. Currently, development of purpose-built rental buildings is concentrated along arterial roads, which have significantly higher levels of air pollution than non-arterials. What policies do you support to ensure renters have a healthy living environment?

More projects with 'green-belts' and parks in and surrounding.

4. It can take several years for the City of Vancouver to approve new construction, including purpose built rentals. What are your views on how we can more quickly approve and build needed rental housing?

B.S. I've been in construction most of my life, residential homes, apartments, high-rise and office. When the mayor is a go getter and knows those in every level of every department at city hall, can you just imagine what will be done. Plans for many buildings, of all sizes and shapes have already been approved by city hall, and can be implemented on other properties with ease. 

5. The City of Vancouver announced their new housing strategy, “Making Room” earlier this year. One component of the strategy was to allow duplex housing and possibly other forms of housing in areas currently zoned for single family detached housing. Do you support this strategy? What would you change.

Change? An other candidate for a veto.

6. Do you support reducing or eliminating parking requirements for new residential construction located near frequent transit?

Traffic congestion is at a pinnacle in this city, anything that reduces traffic/pollution is a bonus for Vancouver.

7. Are there any other policies you support to address the housing crisis?

My 'poverty tax' is quarterly taxing the multi-million $$$ corporations making money in Vancouver to pay there part in keeping Vancouver 'livable'. Within no time thing will start to change. I'm banking on it.

Gölök Z Buday

1. The City of Vancouver prohibits apartment buildings on more than 75% of the city's residential land via zoning. Do you support entirely or significantly eliminating the ban on apartment buildings in residential areas of the City of Vancouver?

Yes, it should up to the individual owners what they build, or not.  Aside from a temporary moratorium on Condos.  But the type of building is up to them.  It takes volume in materials to buy wholesale, and wholesale units lower costs and that building volume lowers what a renter needs to make a living.  If affordability is a problem it's not right to prevent them from building affordable housing.

2. Will you commit to enacting policies to increase the rental vacancy rate in Vancouver to at least 3%? If so, which policies would you enact?

Aside from a temporary moratorium on Condo Buildings, there is little one can do improve Vacancies, well short of throwing people out of homes.
I also favor a parking system that allows charities to make claims to a few parking meters to help pay for cheaper rental housing.  I also think
we should make deals with private persons who, in return of our public Golf courses, get to build on it as long as at least 10% of units are disabled, and dog friendly.  Perhaps 5% cheaper family housing, then they can bilk with the rest.
I would look to supporting putting parks in charge of people who will build housing a jobs for the homeless on parks while also keeping the public park type at most around it.

3. Currently, development of purpose-built rental buildings is concentrated along arterial roads, which have significantly higher levels of air pollution than non-arterials. What policies do you support to ensure renters have a healthy living environment?

I'd recommend they grow ferns.  I am more concerned with mold and roaches that love living near the mold.  I lived in those conditions even as recent as 2 years ago, only since escaping that have I noticed how worse my health was.  We need some way of having those properties taken from the derelict owners and resold to better individuals, it may lead to unavoidable gentrification, but in the long run it is a lot healthier and better for everyone.  I am not for eminent domain, but derelict buildings are terrible for even neighbor properties.  Due process would have to be enforced of course.  We are talking beyond renovatable situations.  I would request the province make it a crime, felony, to have a derelict internal environment.  I suspect that symptoms attributed to mental illness may be sickness from mold.

4. It can take several years for the City of Vancouver to approve new construction, including purpose built rentals. What are your views on how we can more quickly approve and build needed rental housing?

My view, is you own a property, you decide what you build on it, or do with it, or rent to.  We have an archaic zoning system that even punishes the self employed and small business start up.
I understand the Dr Wright theory of business close to industry, but we need to be somewhat flexible with individual property owners.  I would prefer a system where individual property owners
individually agree to rent their land to developers, and if enough do it, they themselves have approved the building.
Also no one should be told "illegal suite," when renting their garage or back room to someone for what ever they want to who ever they want.

5. The City of Vancouver announced their new housing strategy, "Making Room" earlier this year. One component of the strategy was to allow duplex housing and possibly other forms of housing in areas currently zoned for single family detached housing. Do you support this strategy? What would you change?

I wouldn't disallow anyone with a proper architectural plan from building on their property the way they want to.  Duplex, single home, what ever they want.

6. Do you support reducing or eliminating parking requirements for new residential construction located near frequent transit?

If your saying requiring a car park by law, I wouldn't tolerate that, nor disallowing it bylaw.  It's up to the property owner.  What they want is what they want.  If you're talking meters and things like that.  I support giving meters to schools, libraries, parks, art venues, and charities to help fund themselves. Something that could help someone planning on building housing for the poor.  Anything with a meter would collect the revenue and use it directly without the middle man bureaucrat.

7. Are there any other policies you support to address the housing crisis?

It's possible to make use of homesteading policy, one huge mistake the Tent City people did was not any of them to do something with a piece of land, just drop a tent and lie around. If they taught them to homestead a piece of it, they could have shown the City that they can do something with a wasted piece of land, or to the province. A lot of crowned land and public Golf courses, and Government approved luxuries out there could have been turned into a thriving life, hell the Arbutus Corridor. I might be willing to put that new convention centre to a charity willing to make it a place a few people could live cheeply, work nearby and co-op help maintain the building. Nothing I say is a foolish promise, of course, here, because council would have to support some of it, and you never know.  But there are some ideas without taxpayer's money being wasted to help out.

Satie Shottha

1. The City of Vancouver prohibits apartment buildings on more than 75% of the city’s residential land via zoning. Do you support entirely or significantly eliminating the ban on apartment buildings in residential areas of the City of Vancouver?

Significantly.

2. Will you commit to enacting policies to increase the rental vacancy rate in Vancouver to at least 3%? If so, which policies would you enact?

Yes.

3. Currently, development of purpose-built rental buildings is concentrated along arterial roads, which have significantly higher levels of air pollution than non-arterials. What policies do you support to ensure renters have a healthy living environment?

Green areas, planting trees,parks.

4. It can take several years for the City of Vancouver to approve new construction, including purpose built rentals. What are your views on how we can more quickly approve and build needed rental housing?

Reduce spending by the city in other areas, one of them is culture of secrecy, non-transparency, harassment- even with the amazing policies against harassment and whistle-blower policy.

5. The City of Vancouver announced their new housing strategy, “Making Room” earlier this year. One component of the strategy was to allow duplex housing and possibly other forms of housing in areas currently zoned for single family detached housing. Do you support this strategy? What would you change?

It is a way in the right direction, if land owners don't have the cash to fund a larger high rise, they will be forced to sell to developers but if they have a choice between building a duplex or high rise, it will work in favour of single home owners.

6. Do you support reducing or eliminating parking requirements for new residential construction located near frequent transit?

Yes.

7. Are there any other policies you support to address the housing crisis?

City employees are bullied at a high rate by city managers. Each year, city spends millions of dollars to deal with harassment by the same manager (in many cases), instead of minimizing or eliminating the issue- city wastes the tax dollars on dealing with the same individuals over and over again. Each case can cost from $50,000 to half a million dollars. When city can build a tiny home for approximately $20,000. Each arbitration cost the city $100,000 and it can house 5 individual instead. One manager has 9 cases filed against him, it can house 50 individuals if city offered training if that didn't work, got rid of that individual. Harassment should be eliminated. City has a safe work place policy but it is ignored every day. 

ROLLERGIRL

1. The City of Vancouver prohibits apartment buildings on more than 75% of the city’s residential land via zoning. Do you support entirely or significantly eliminating the ban on apartment buildings in residential areas of the City of Vancouver?

5. The City of Vancouver announced their new housing strategy, “Making Room” earlier this year. One component of the strategy was to allow duplex housing and possibly other forms of housing in areas currently zoned for single family detached housing. Do you support this strategy? What would you change?

Yes, this seems like an obvious proposal. So many houses are rented room by room anyway regardless of bylaws.

6. Do you support reducing or eliminating parking requirements for new residential construction located near frequent transit?

Yes, more and more Vancouver residents are relying completely on public transit. Let's turn some of those multi floor parking garages into living spaces.

John Yano

1. The City of Vancouver prohibits apartment buildings on more than 75% of the city’s residential land via zoning. Do you support entirely or significantly eliminating the ban on apartment buildings in residential areas of the City of Vancouver?

I strongly support developing a plan with neighbourhoods throughout the city to increase density through meaningful dialogue with communities and stakeholders and an overall plan for the city. I do not support blanket rezoning that would destroy the unique character of our neighbourhoods. Blanket rezoning benefits developers and causes many unintended consequences for neighbourhoods.

2. Will you commit to enacting policies to increase the rental vacancy rate in Vancouver to at least 3%? If so, which policies would you enact?

I commit to creating a city whose residential rental vacancy rate is 5-7%. A residential rental vacancy rate that is less than 5% means that rental prices will always go up as 5% is considered a frictional vacancy rate. I will enact a moratorium on up-zoning for market residential condos until the rental vacancy rate is 5-7% across all types of rental housing. I will advocate the creation of a durably civic owned prefab housing building company to fast track the construction of affordable rental housing, providing union jobs and lower cost per square metre of living space and with higher speed.

3. Currently, development of purpose-built rental buildings is concentrated along arterial roads, which have significantly higher levels of air pollution than non-arterials. What policies do you support to ensure renters have a healthy living environment?

Long-term urban arterials will have lower pollution with the increasing electrification of our transportation networks. I support low-rise rental development that creates green interior courtyards that provides safe spaces for residents. Urban arterials will provide easy access to shopping and services that are walkable. A slow change that increases density out from arterials will increase the vibrancy of neighbourhoods without destroying their unique character.

4. It can take several years for the City of Vancouver to approve new construction, including purpose built rentals. What are your views on how we can more quickly approve and build needed rental housing?

By having an overall city plan and individual neighbourhood plans with increases in civic staff associated with development (planning staff, construction inspectors and development clerks) will enable more rapid permitting for development.

5. The City of Vancouver announced their new housing strategy, “Making Room” earlier this year. One component of the strategy was to allow duplex housing and possibly other forms of housing in areas currently zoned for single family detached housing. Do you support this strategy? What would you change?

I oppose blanket rezoning. I witnessed the change in Kitsilano when older relatively affordable homes often with rental suites were replaced by luxury duplexes. The homes that were demolished and sent to landfill were often occupied by an older family with one car and renters with no cars. The luxury duplexes that replaced them were most often bought by affluent middle aged families that were returning to the city, that had often had 3 or more imported luxury vehicles (without sufficient off street parking).

I support meaningful dialogue with neighbourhoods to develop density that minimizes its ecological footprint. Wholesale destruction of built homes is an environmental disaster and damages affordability. Renovation of built homes to accommodate greater density is a much more sustainable way to minimize environmental impact of increasing density.

6. Do you support reducing or eliminating parking requirements for new residential construction located near frequent transit?

I support reducing parking requirements where it makes sense. Luxury condo dwellers often have multiple vehicles. Truly affordable housing often can have less parking so long as it provides visitor parking and service provider parking. Living downtown I have often found it difficult to get trades (such as plumbers and similar) to be willing to do work in my neighbourhood as they cannot find parking.

7. Are there any other policies you support to address the housing crisis?

As in my response to question 2 – the durably owned by the city prefab building company. I will strongly advocate that no urban voter support a candidate or party for a political office Federal or Provincial, who does not provide funding and a plan with concrete timelines (short and long terms) to build affordable housing. The Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments share responsibility for the lack of affordable housing with the senior levels of government having much greater ability to fund needed affordable housing.

Kennedy Stewart

1. The City of Vancouver prohibits apartment buildings on more than 75% of the city’s residential land via zoning. Do you support entirely or significantly eliminating the ban on apartment buildings in residential areas of the City of Vancouver?

Large apartment buildings, as well as large condo towers, are prohibited in low-density, single-family residential zones. Kennedy plans to allow for ground-oriented in developments, such as duplexes, in neighbourhoods across the city. He also plans to increase rental supply through rental-only zoning and will encourage purpose-built rental through a fast-track permitting stream.

2. Will you commit to enacting policies to increase the rental vacancy rate in Vancouver to at least 3%? If so, which policies would you enact?

Kennedy is committed to increasing rental stock in the city using a variety of tools available for use by the city. He will use the newly created rental-only zoning to protect and increase rental stock across the city. Kennedy has a plan to build 25,000 new non-profit, affordable rental homes with a focus on those earning less than $80,000/year. In addition, his plan includes building 25,000 market rental homes, and 35,000 new condominiums, coach houses, and townhouses over 10 years.

3. Currently, development of purpose-built rental buildings is concentrated along arterial roads, which have significantly higher levels of air pollution than non-arterials. What policies do you support to ensure renters have a healthy living environment?

As Vancouver continues to grow, it’s crucial for that growth to be spread throughout all of the city’s neighbourhoods. By ensuring that new rental housing is built in areas where it currently isn’t being built, Kennedy will promote more inclusive and affordable neighbourhoods. He’ll do this by re-zoning certain areas for rental-only use and removing procedural barriers for homeowners wanting to convert their houses to multi-family residences. He’ll also stand up for renters and create a new Renters Advocate Office to make sure renters are treated fairly and have access to information, advocacy, and legal assistance.

4. It can take several years for the City of Vancouver to approve new construction, including purpose built rentals. What are your views on how we can more quickly approve and build needed rental housing?

Kennedy plans to build 25,000 new purpose-built rental apartments and laneway homes over the next deadline. He’ll do this by streamlining the processes for building within the city, especially as they relate to rental construction. This plan includes adding more clerical staff, reorganizing departments to untangle conflicting requirements, and making small and medium-size developments a priority. Kennedy will also increase resources to expedite purpose-built rental developments through a new Purpose-Built Rental Housing Office to provide a single point of contact and increase certainty for purpose-built rental developers.

5. The City of Vancouver announced their new housing strategy, “Making Room” earlier this year. One component of the strategy was to allow duplex housing and possibly other forms of housing in areas currently zoned for single family detached housing. Do you support this strategy? What would you change?

Duplexes are a good start for providing more housing in Vancouver and Kennedy supports allowing duplexes across the city. They provide an opportunity for those entering the housing market, and allow Vancouver’s neighbourhoods to maintain their character. It is also important
to examine other types of housing, such as triplexes and fourplexes that can fit into the fabric of a neighbourhood. Kennedy plans to focus on Vancouver’s least-dense neighbourhoods by expediting the process for single-family homeowners to construct or convert multi-family residences.

6. Do you support reducing or eliminating parking requirements for new residential construction located near frequent transit?

The City of Vancouver currently adjusts parking requirements according to a number of factors, including proximity to transit. Kennedy plans to expand Vancouver’s bus network and supports extending the SkyTrain all the way to UBC, which will make transit accessible to many new areas in Vancouver, reducing the need for parking.

7. Are there any other policies you support to address the housing crisis?

Absolutely. Kennedy has a housing plan that targets all types of housing from supportive housing, rentals, and co-ops to market housing. The full housing platform can be found at www.kennedystewart.ca/housing