This little group met at a rezoning hearing in June, after having seen hearing after hearing in which residents, frequently existing homeowners, showed up to oppose new housing. We decided to get organized together because we wanted to do something about it.  

And what better place to start than the 5-year-running-controversy that is the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan? The ever-controversial plan goes to City Council next Wednesday, July 27, starting at 9:30am. If you'd like to come and speak in support of more housing in this amazing neighbourhood, this is your chance.

Public input into this plan will also inform future community plans, including in wealthier neighbourhoods with a lot more snob-zoning than in Grandview-Woodland.

You can register to speak to Council next Wednesday by emailing the Meeting Coordinator: speaker.request@vancouver.ca.

If you can't make it next Wednesday, you can also write in to give your thoughts on the plan at mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca.

The plan is available on the City website. A good summary is available here. Under the plan, the population of the area is forecast to grow by about 10,000 people, to 43,500, by 2041.

The plan calls for about 300 new people in the neighbourhood, each year, over the next 30 years, with most of these in large buildings around Commercial and Broadway, and along Hastings Street.Very few new units will be created on the majority of land, or near current single-family or duplex homes. 

What we'd love to have seen in this plan is more of the "missing middle" of modest rowhomes, small apartments, and secondary units (i.e., more and bigger laneway houses). With land prices escalating and renters being priced out, these additional houses in lower-density areas would make space for immigrants and newcomers, and also for displaced or evicted renters and long-time residents who need somewhere else in the neighbourhood to live.

Grandview-Woodland has long been a bastion of affordable, central, housing in Vancouver. With many co-ops, a thriving arts-scene, good restaurants, and (historically) affordable rents in both modest apartment buildings and beautiful heritage homes, we all want to see the Drive keep its spirit. So come join us at Council to talk about how best to make space for more people and new neighbours in Grandview-Woodland.

You might already know that townhouses and apartments are illegal on most of Vancouver's residential land. But did you know that some neighbourhoods go further by effectively zoning for mansions that are many times more expensive than even the average multi-million-dollar Vancouver house?

On Saturday September 24, we hope you can join AHV members for a casual walking tour through West Point Grey. We'll tour the ultra-exclusionary Belmont Avenue and Drummond Drive neighbourhood, discuss the City of Vancouver policies that keep it out of reach for most, and wind up near 10th and Sasamat for drinks, food, and socializing.

We'll meet at the NW corner of Blanca and Belmont at 4PM.

Join Abundant Housing Vancouver to support several housing projects that we think are pretty worth while. Meet with us at the hearing, and write City Council to let them know that you think these projects are important for Vancouver's housing needs.  

• 2720 East 48th Avenue: Expanded Senior's housing in South Vancouver
• 575 Drake Street: Covenant House provides support homeless youth, and they want to add 10 stories of new building to their site in Yaletown to expand their mission
• 1495 West 8th Avenue: The above mentioned Masonic Centre redevelopment.  The plan is to add 159 new units - a mix of market and non market rental housing. Neighbors are already writing in, claiming that rental housing doesn't belong in Fairview.  We disagree. 

Following up on our last casual coffee chat in Mount Pleasant and discussing our observations from the previous week's walking tour, join us for a morning of robust coffee consumption, tasty treats  and conversation at the Black Rook Bakehouse on East Hastings Street in Hastings-Sunrise 

Welcome to another installment of Abundant Coffee Vancouver, our periodic coffee chat about housing.  Bring your friends and neighbours for some caffeinated conversation. 

We'll be meeting at Aperture Coffee (243 W Broadway) 10 AM on Sunday, June 4, near Alberta St, two blocks from Broadway-City Hall Station. All are welcome. 

With a City Council byelection coming in the near future, join us on Wednesday, August 9th at 6 PM for a discussion over beers about housing and what you'd like to see from candidates for council to help alleviate Vancouver's ongoing housing crisis.  Make sure to bring your friends and neighbours and your ideas on where the city needs to be going.   

We will be gathering at the Steel Toad Brewing Co. in the Olympic Village at 6 PM.  

You might already know that townhouses and apartments are illegal on most of Vancouver's residential land. But did you know that some neighbourhoods go further by effectively zoning for mansions that are many times more expensive than even the average multi-million-dollar Vancouver house?

On Sunday September 10, we hope you can join AHV members for a casual walking tour through West Point Grey. We'll tour the ultra-exclusionary Belmont Avenue and Drummond Drive neighbourhood, discuss the City of Vancouver policies that keep it out of reach for most, and wind up near 10th and Sasamat for drinks, food, and socializing.

We'll meet at the NW corner of Blanca and Belmont at 1PM.

Join us on Saturday, June 2, at 3:00pm to share ideas about housing with Seattle Councillor Rob Johnson. Socializing and drinks follow his lecture and the Q&A.

Rob Johnson is a pro-housing and pro-public transportation councillor from the 4th District in Northeast Seattle. He has been in the trenches of housing debates in Seattle, and he's kindly joining us this Saturday to discuss neighbourhood groups, HALA (Seattle's new housing policy- the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda), and the trials and tribulations of building a more inclusive and sustainable Cascadia.

Join us for a fun, social afternoon where ideas on growing the pro-housing movement from across the border can be shared. Beer will be served at a cash bar.

Where: The Hive Co-working space, #210-128 W Hastings.*

When: This Saturday, June 2, from 3:00-5:30pm.

Why: To learn and share lessons about housing policy in Seattle.

RSVP on our Facebook Page.

*Accessibility: We regret that the Hive is not currently an accessible space, but we have heard that they will be installing a lift in the future.

You might already know that townhouses and apartments are illegal on most of Vancouver's residential land. But did you know that some neighbourhoods go further by effectively zoning for mansions that are many times more expensive than even the average multi-million-dollar Vancouver house?

On Sunday September 16, we hope you can join AHV members for our 3rd annual walking tour through West Point Grey. We'll tour the ultra-exclusionary Belmont Avenue and Drummond Drive neighbourhood, discuss the City of Vancouver policies that keep it out of reach for most, and wind up on Broadway or 10th for drinks, food, and discussion.

We'll meet at Blanca and Belmont at 1pm.