Speakers list for 1805 Larch rezoning, December 2019
An example of hyperlocal opposition to rental housing
Opposition to new housing is much stronger in Kitsilano than on the east side. A good example: the rezoning for 1805 Larch (at 2nd) in December 2019, for a five-storey rental building with about 60 apartments, 20% below-market (“moderate income units”).
This was one of three similar rental rezonings that came before council at the same time. Two were on the east side, this one was in Kits. The first two passed unanimously, with few speakers. The third one had nearly 100 speakers signed up, mostly against, and it took two nights to hear them all. (I spoke in support, after hearing that nearly every speaker on the first night was opposed - this was the first time I spoke at a public hearing.)
It passed 8-3 with Colleen Hardwick, Jean Swanson, and Adriane Carr opposed.
Direct links to all speakers are included below.
To quote Ginger Gosnell-Myers: “It’s easier to elect a pope than to approve a small rental apartment building in the city of Vancouver.” (The papal election in 2013 only took two days.)
December 12
19:53:48 Presentation by staff and applicant
21:10:24 Anne Reilander (oppose)
21:16:18 Erin Ryan (support)
21:18:38 Peter Saunderson (oppose)
21:30:00 Janet Buckle (oppose)
21:35:38 Christos Dikeakos (oppose)
21:41:30 Judith Barbara Osburn (oppose)
21:56:06 Esther Alexander (oppose)
22:03:05 Greg Bridges (oppose)
22:11:40 David Hovan (oppose)
22:22:35 Sonya Cressman (oppose)
22:27:35 Louise Mandell (oppose)
22:33:03 Laraine Michalson (oppose)
22:38:05 Sharon Turner (oppose)
22:39:00 James K. Turner (oppose)
22:46:43 Sophie Dikeakos (oppose)
December 17
18:31:48 Sal Robinson (oppose)
18:36:52 Barb Whyte (oppose)
18:42:09 Michael Mortensen (support)
18:55:18 Bill Duncan (oppose)
19:00:23 Sharon Halfnight (oppose)
19:06:42 Marla Morry (oppose)
19:12:32 David Hutniak, Landlord BC (support)
19:18:05 John Vaillant (oppose)
19:25:33 Marjorie Ross (oppose)
19:31:38 Kenneth Finnbogason (support)
19:33:10 Sharon McCarthy (oppose)
19:36:27 Katsuko Brown (oppose)
19:42:10 Katerina Doumakis (oppose)
19:47:18 Allan Macdonald (oppose)
19:53:01 Yardena Vener (oppose)
20:02:00 Peter Waldkirch (support)
20:07:07 Jens Bergmann (support)
20:11:04 Christopher Raftis (support)
20:14:12 Stuart Rush (oppose)
20:23:04 Andrew Brown (oppose)
20:32:07 Tony Letvinchuk (support)
20:37:28 Michael Adria (support)
20:39:38 Scott de Lange Boom (support)
20:44:24 Stuart Smith (support)
20:50:20 Marc MacCaull (support)
20:52:17 Ian Wigington (oppose)
20:56:38 Devon Hussack (support)
21:01:35 Larry Benge (oppose)
21:21:59 Gary Schajer (oppose)
21:27:35 Janet Bickford (oppose)
21:30:35 Laurelle Shalagan (oppose)
21:35:41 Joshua Millard (support)
21:36:46 Sampath Satti (support)
21:40:36 Matena Morfidis (oppose)
21:45:35 Frederick Bass, former Vancouver city councillor (oppose)
22:07:19 Franck Duong (oppose)
22:11:34 Russil Wvong (support)
22:13:50 Barb Bulmer (oppose)
22:16:13 Bruce McLaren (oppose)
December 18
Closing comments and vote. Passed 8-3, with Colleen Hardwick, Jean Swanson, and Adriane Carr voting against.
More:
Agenda for December 12 public hearing, extended to December 17 and 18 - includes staff reports, video, minutes, and correspondence for and against
Staff policy report for 1805 Larch rezoning, reporting on how this rezoning application satisfied all the regulatory requirements. For comparison: reports for 2543-2583 Renfrew and 2603-2655 Renfrew rezonings.
Kitsilano Anglican Church put up for sale for almost $12 million (Vancouver Sun, February 2018)
The fight for — and against — affordable rental housing in Vancouver. Dan Fumano in the Vancouver Sun, April 2019. “Make the units smaller, and make the building higher. Well, that's like the ghetto. You're dropping the ghetto in Kitsilano.”
Vancouver city council approves 63 rental homes for Kitsilano. Kenneth Chan in the Daily Hive, December 2019. Also: 10 absurd things said by residents against a 5-storey Kitsilano rental building.
After the rezoning decision, the project still needed a development permit. Development permit application - submitted June 2020, decision November 2020, permit issued September 2021.