A daily selection of urban themed media reports.
Victoria & Region
Times Colonist: Lighter coins bring change to meters
Times Colonist: Three firms make first cut in bridge bidding
Vancouver & Region
Vancouver Sun: Vancouver sex workers could benefit from heading indoors, study finds
Elsewhere
Globe & Mail: Smoke bombs cripple Montreal subway system during morning rush hour
Globe & Mail: Tempers flare as [Toronto city] council debates firearms bylaw
So-called “Derelict” Boats near Banfield Park
Yesterday, I led a very successful Jane’s Walk (more information and links here) through Vic West. Almost thirty people (and two dogs) showed up, and we had some excellent conversations at various points along the Galloping Goose Trail.
Despite my prediction that the privatization of public space and the selling of city owned properties would be the most controversial items during our conversations, it was actually the so-called “derelict” boats moored near Banfield Park that inspired the most passionate discussion. The major issue of contention was whether the boats should be allowed to stay as a form of housing or whether they are a dangerous eyesore that should be completely banned from the harbour.
As I see it, there are three major problems with the boats moored there:
One participant on the walk made a passionate argument that for these reasons, all boats should be banned from mooring in the the bay long term. She was particularly concerned with the pollution, and expressed fear for herself and daughter when using the park because of the potential for violence.
Another participant pointed out (quite rightly, I think) that many of the boats are providing housing to people who would otherwise be homeless. Rather than simply banning boats from mooring there, there are other ways to solve the major problems listed above.
These are more subtle and effective ways to deal with the actual problems that come with the boats, than the more heavy-handed suggestion that they simply be banned. Simply banning them would move the problems elsewhere, and would require a huge investment in social housing to prevent increasing homelessness in the area.
Yet another participant also pointed out that social housing isn’t even a solution for all the people living on such boats. Owning a boat provides a certain pride of ownership and the ability to control your own space that many local home-owners ought to understand. It is very difficult (and perhaps impossible) to replicate such intangibles with social housing, which often requires strict regulation to maintain safety and security.
Strictly regulating the boats thus seems like one way to maintain diverse housing stock, create the conditions for an economically inclusive neighbourhood and solve the admittedly important problems that they bring to the area.
Spiral Café – The Final Stop
On May 6, 2012 (tomorrow), I will be leading a Jane’s Walk through Vic West. Over the past week, I’ve posted quite a bit of information about the Walk on this blog and elsewhere. Here are the main points:
In the description of my upcoming Jane’s Walk, I indicated that we will finish the walk at Spiral Café for a conversation after the walk. The picture in that post shows the sidewalk torn up, and forms in place for a planned concrete pour. A couple of days ago, City crews poured half of the new sidewalk, including the area in front of Spiral. It includes locally designed patterns in aggregate concrete and glass decoration, part of a community-led place-making process. The rest of the sidewalk should be completed in the near future.
New Sidewalk Taking Shape Outside Spiral Cafe
As I’ve been organizing this walk, I’ve been thinking about the importance of coffee shops in our culture. They have a long and distinguished history as meeting places, have been politically important in creating the modern world, and have huge economic effects world-wide. Coffee shops are even great places to work, as this picture of me using my typewriter shows:
Typing at Spiral Since 2012
Victoria is blessed with a number of independent coffee shops that have their own atmosphere and culture. We’ll be passing two on my Jane’s Walk (Café Fantastico and Spiral Café). I have my own ideas about how each fits with the ideas of Jane Jacobs, and will be interested to find out what other participants think.
Over the past couple of days, a couple of contentious issues have been widely reported in the media that parallel issues I want to discuss during my Jane’s Walk on Sunday.
University of Victoria geographer Reuben Rose-Redwood recently announced results from a study on the selling of naming rights on city buildings, structures and public places. His concerns about selling naming rights are similar to my concerns about public and private space “oozing” into each other, and developers providing public amenities (see point 3 in my post about my upcoming Jane’s Walk). Here are some links describing Dr. Rose-Redwood’s research:
Here are a couple of academic articles on naming rights in general:
There is also a petition against selling naming rights on City of Victoria structures, that you can sign by clicking this link.
Addition, May 4, 2012: “Council edges closer to policy on naming rights.”
Then there was the controversy over the City considering the sale of Point Hope lands. I will be starting my Jane’s Walk at the Point Hope Shipyard Lookout (pictured) on Sunday, so we’ll have a chance to discuss this issue in more depth. Here are some links that describe the background:
Lisa Helps will be joining us for the Jane’s Walk, so we’ll be able to hear a city councillor’s perspective on the issue.
The start point of my upcoming Jane’s Walk erupted in controversy this week. Victoria City Council is considering selling several properties occupied by the Point Hope Shipyard and related businesses. Councillors Ben Isitt and Shellie Gudgeon have organized a public forum on the issue, scheduled for next Wednesday (May 9) at the Fairfield Community Centre’s Garry Oak Room (1335 Thurlow Road). Apart from the issues raised by myself (and Jane Jacobs) surrounding industry, pollution, jobs and residential zoning in cities, I think we should discuss the issues that Ben and Shellie raise. The Times-Colonist story summarizes them well:
Isitt says there are many unanswered questions regarding the four cityowned properties on Harbour Road, including:
- whether they are really surplus to the city’s needs;
- whether the city realizes the greatest economic benefit by selling, rather than leasing the lands;
- whether the city is a stronger position as owner or regulator of the lands when it comes to sustaining a working harbour and ensuring a manufacturing base;
- If the lands are deemed surplus to the city’s needs, whether a sale through negotiation with the current tenant produce would the best return.
Join me on May 6 at 9:00 am for a Jane’s Walk to discuss these and other issues.
Edit: See Lisa Helps’ take on the issue at her blog. Lisa will be joining my Jane’s Walk on Sunday, and I’m looking forward to discussing this issue with her then.
In advance of my Jane’s Walk on May 6, here are a few links:
