Recent developments with this community plan
Laneways 2.0 Walkshop
We need your help building upon the last set of productive community walkshops in March, where we explored opportunities to improve the West End’s laneways. We would like to invite you to attend a follow up walkshop to dive a bit deeper into the ideas and concepts.
The results from the walkshop will be used to support the directions of the West End Community Plan. A community plan happens only once every 30 years, so this is your opportunity to help shape your future community!
Open houses on refined community plan draft directions
May 22, 2013 – Drop by one of our June open houses or look for us at the West End Car Free Day to review the refined draft directions. The feedback we received during our April open houses helped further shape the directions. Join us at an event to go over the directions and share your thoughts as we move toward the creation of a draft plan.
Event date and time: Sunday, June 16, noon – 6pm
Event location: West End Car Free Day, Denman Street between Davie and Robson
Event date and time: Wednesday, June 19, 4 – 7pm
Event location: Best Western Sands Hotel, 1755 Davie Street
Event date and time: Saturday, June 22, 1 – 4 pm
Event location: Strawberry Festival at Barclay Heritage Square
Event date and time: Tuesday, June 25, 4 – 7 pm
Event location: Blue Horizon Hotel, 1225 Robson Street
What do you think of the West End community plan directions?
April 4, 2013 – If you can't make it to one of our planning open houses (April 4, 6, 9), or would prefer to provide input from the comfort of your own home, this is your chance. Share your thoughts about the West End’s emerging plan directions.
The survey closed on April 23, 2013.
Plan directions open houses
March 11, 2013 – Since the planning process launched in April 2012, we've received a wide range of feedback from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders, which has helped shape a set of directions. Drop in to an open house to learn more about the directions and have your say. Your input will help refine the directions and create a draft plan.
Event date and time: Thursday, April 4, 4-7pm
Event location: Best Western Sands Hotel, 1755 Davie Street
Event date and time: Saturday, April 6, 11am-2pm
Event location: West End Community Centre, 870 Denman Street
Event date and time: Tuesday, April 9, 4-7pm
Event location: Blue Horizon Hotel, 1225 Robson Street
What do you think of the housing issues we have identified in the West End?
March 11, 2013 – Were you unable to attend our housing info session Feb 26? View our consultation materials under the 'documents' tab, then give us your comments by filling out our questionnaire. Materials provide you with an opportunity to find out more about the housing issues facing the West End, and also what we’ve heard about housing from both the community and the area housing providers. The feedback you provide here will help inform the draft West End Community Plan directions that we will be coming out with April 4, 6, and 9.
The survey closed on March 24, 2013.
Laneway use "Walkshops'
Attend a "walkshop" and think about how West End laneways could be used in the future, including surface and landscaping treatments, pedestrian facilities, benches, lighting, traffic calming, parking, and infill housing possibilities. Learn about the history and character of the laneways, and observe and discuss how we design these places. The walk will be followed by a two-hour facilitated workshop where you can share your ideas for laneway improvements.
Commercial street "Walkshops'
The West End’s four commercial streets (Davie, Denman, Robson and Alberni Streets) are part of the community planning process. Attend a “walkshop” and consider the design elements that make up a vibrant, active and viable commercial street. Learn about the history and character of these streets, and observe and discuss these important community places are designed. The walk is followed by a two-hour facilitated workshop that provide an opportunity to share what is working, and where there are opportunities for improvements.
- Alberni Street
Thursday, March 7, 2013, 2 to 5 pm
For more information and to register: http://alberniwalkshop.eventbrite.com
- Davie Street
Friday, March 8, 2013, 1 to 5 pm
For more information and to register: http://daviewalkshop.eventbrite.com
- Robson Street
Friday, March 15, 2013, 1 to 5 pm
For more information and to register: http://robsonwalkshop.eventbrite.com
- Denman Street
Saturday, March 16, 2013, 1 to 4 pm
For more information and to register: http://denmanwalkshop.eventbrite.com
Information session on housing in the West End
Affordable housing and homelessness are important issues in the West End. Find out what we've heard about housing from both the community and the area housing providers, and the housing issues faced by your community. City staff will be on hand to answer your questions at this drop-in session.
- Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 5:30 to 8 pm
Denman Room (note change in room), Coast Plaza Hotel, 1763 Comox Street
Phase 2 launch survey summary released
December 2012 – We have summarized the responses to the survey that we conducted online, and at our October 2012 community open houses.
The survey gauged support for, and received feedback on, the six core community values and three lenses for dialogue that emerged from Phase 1, as well as the "Action While Planning" initiatives that took place over spring and summer 2012.
Phase 1 consultation summary released
November 2012 – Six core community values emerged from the ideas, interests, and opportunities we received through our broad range of Phase 1 consultation activities and events.
Community open houses
Staff will share what we heard through Phase 1 of the planning process, and outline the process and ways to get involved as we move into Phase 2.
October 30, 2012
Blue Horizon Hotel - Garibaldi Room, 4:00 to 7:00pm
1225 Robson Street
October 27, 2012
West End Community Centre - English Bay Room, 11:00am to 2:00pm
870 Denman Street
October 24, 2012
Sands Hotel - Capilano Room, 4:00 to 7:00pm
1755 Davie Street
Information boards:
Open house handouts:
Cardero street mural
September 23, 2012 – In partnership with the West End Community Plan team and VIVA Vancouver, a local West End artist/resident brought together a group of interested volunteer artists and local residents to design and paint an on-street mural on Cardero Street, between Comox and Nelson. The painting session was open to anyone who wanted to join in, and it was a great success. The program brought together a diversity of participants, and the colourful mural artwork was greatly appreciated by passersby.
Pride Festival
August 5, 2012 – At the Pride Festival at Sunset Beach Park, our team met lots of people who stopped by our tent to talk about the West End, filled out surveys, shared their thoughts on our ideas board and learned more about the planning process.
Pride street mural
August 4, 2012 – Our “Express Your Pride” street mural painting session on Bute Street south of Davie filled the area with colourful artwork when we invited passersby to grab a brush and paint something on the roadway to express their pride.
Cultural asset mapping
July 27, 2012 – Staff from Cultural Services and the West End Planning Team hosted a cultural asset mapping session at the West End Community Centre. Participants were asked to identify and map cultural assets in the West End and explain their significance. For this session, a wider, inclusive definition of culture was used that included businesses, organizations and programming. The results from this session helped identify key cultural assets in the West End as well as ideas, opportunities and values related to them.
Neighbourhood character walking tours
July 25 and 28, 2012 – Staff from our planning team and the Transportation department hosted two walking tours in the West End to explore the community’s unique character. The walks covered the various West End neighbourhoods, including west of Denman, English Bay-Beach Avenue, Nelson Plateau and Nelson Slopes, and north of Robson. During the walk, we discussed: building forms and architecture of different eras; streetscape and public realm; laneways; heritage; and parks, mini-parks and open space. Staff recorded participants’ observations and discussions during the tour to help identify key ideas, opportunities and values related to neighbourhood character.
West End Farmers Market
July 14, 2012 – The West End community planning team had a tent in Nelson Park adjacent to the West End Farmers Market. Information about the planning process and upcoming events was provided, and staff were on hand to answer questions and explain how to get involved. Hard copies of the Community Survey were available to fill out, and people shared their ideas for the future West End on the ideas board.
West End Ideas Fair
June 23, 2012 – The West End community planning team hosted an Ideas Fair on Barclay Street at Barclay Heritage Square, to coincide with the West End Seniors’ Network’s Strawberry Festival, where West Enders could see some of the ideas that have been generated, have discussions with circle members, and meet their neighbours.
Staff also displayed the winners of the Photo Contest, shared what we’ve heard so far at our launch events and open houses, and provided general information about the West End community planning program. The contest is over, but the site will remain open through to the end of 2012 for people to submit photos, add comments, and rate images.
Jane’s Walk Recap & Dialogue | Home: An Exploration of 3 Vancouver Communities
June 19, 2012 – Staff revisited the May 6 "Jane's Walks" at a special recap session at the Museum of Vancouver. This event brought together planners and tour leaders from Marpole, Grandview-Woodland, and the West End, along with residents for a reflective dialogue that explored similarities between the three neighbourhoods currently undergoing community plans.
Walk leaders and planners reflected on the tours, highlighting what they saw, themes that emerged during the walks and the flavour of the conversation. This set the stage for an open dialogue, moderated by Spacing Vancouver’s Erick Villagomez, that explored how the themes that emerged were expressed in each of the three communities.
West End Car Free Day
June 17, 2012 – The West End community planning team had a tent on Denman Street during West End Car Free Day. Information about the planning process was provided, surveys and community circle discussion guides were available, and people shared their ideas for the future West End. Staff were on hand to answer questions and discuss opportunities to get involved in the planning process.
The City’s Transportation 2040 team also had a tent with information about Phase 2 of the Transportation Plan update
West End photo contest
Show us your hidden gems, your favourite routes, the places you like to visit, or the ones you choose to avoid, in this community planning photo contest.
Three winning photos will be chosen - one in each category: Hot Shots (the cool urban vibe), Green Scene, and Gems (spectacular places or people) - through a people's choice rating process.
The contest is over, but the site will remain open through to the end of 2012 for people to submit photos, add comments, and rate images.
Open houses
May 2012 – The City of Vancouver held three open houses throughout the West End:
The City of Vancouver held three open houses throughout the West End:
- Best Western Sands Hotel: Saturday, May 12, 2012
- Empire Landmark Hotel: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
- Central Presbyterian Church: Thursday, May 17, 2012
The events provided an overview of the planning process, highlighted key information about the community, and showcased an assortment of opportunities for local residents to have their say and get involved.
Storytelling event
May 10, 2012 – The City of Vancouver launched the West End Community Plan with a local storytelling event at Denman Cinema. Local residents shared personal stories that explored the theme of home and the richness of the neighbourhood.
This event was also part of the work being done by the Mayor's Task Force on Housing Affordability, and members of the public were invited into an open ideas competition called re:Think Housing.
West End walking tour
May 6, 2012 – Part of the Jane's Walk series, this walking tour was coordinated by the City of Vancouver and its partners Museum of Vancouver and Spacing Vancouver.
Residents joined local resident Christine Ackermann and architect Graham McGarva to explore what makes the West End unique. City of Vancouver planner, John Grottenberg, was on hand to answer questions about the West End Community Plan and discuss opportunities to get involved.
West End Community Plan stakeholder workshop
January 28, 2012 – City planning staff held a workshop at the Coast Plaza Hotel to help define the issues and opportunities that will be part of the plan's terms of reference.
During the workshop, participants identified:
- Key planning issues
- Areas in the West End that need special planning attention
- Opportunities to strengthen the process and help improve broad community participation
