Hundreds rally at City Hall Saturday against Broadway Plan (PHOTOS)

Andrew Lachkovics | Daily Hive

Close to 350 Vancouverites gathered at City Hall on Saturday demanding more transparency from the City on the Broadway Plan.

According to Organizers, the A Vancouver for Every Voice: A Call to Action Rally included representatives from 20 different neighbourhood associations and community groups.

They met at the north entrance of city hall at 11 am on Saturday, May 7 and heard from speakers who oppose both the Broadway Plan and the Vancouver Plan that are set to be heard at city council over the coming weeks.

There were no observable traffic disruptions as a result of the rally.

According to rep Bill Tieleman, the group’s concerns include the Broadway Plan, an overall lack of transparency at City Hall, and the erosion of affordable housing stock.

Broadway Plan Rally at Vancouver City Hall right now!!#stopthebroadwayplan pic.twitter.com/tzwOD0iA6A

— Susan Thom (@SusanThom8) May 7, 2022

“The Broadway Plan proposes an enormous increase in density in a 500-block area of the city,” reads their release. “These plans override existing community plans and do not include any neighbourhood-based planning to ensure livability and affordability, with the needed infrastructure to support growth.”

Andrew Lachkovics | Daily Hive

Andrew Lachkovics | Daily Hive

Andrew Lachkovics | Daily Hive

You might also like:

“Mayor Stewart Kennedy recently proposed an ambiguous Tenant Protection Plan which clearly underlines the fact that the Broadway Plan was not-well-thought out to begin with and now he’s putting a band-aid on the problem that will not work,” wrote organizers.

Andrew Lachkovics | Daily Hive

City Council is about to have its final meeting concerning the Broadway Plan, which would create another city centre along the Broadway corridor as a new rapid transit line is created.

Residents can learn more about the Broadway Plan and the Vancouver Plan online and will have a chance to speak directly to Council when the plans are presented, in mid-May and late June.

Daily Hive Urbanized has reached out to the City of Vancouver for comment, and they provided a statement.

“Over the past several years the City has engaged extensively with residents, businesses, the three host First Nations and regional organizations on key city plans. These include the Vancouver Plan, Broadway Plan, Climate Emergency Action Plan, Housing Vancouver Strategy and Equity Framework,” said a rep.

“Through the Vancouver Plan and Broadway Plan, we have created a strategy that builds out from our expanding SkyTrain and rapid transit network to create more housing options of all kinds across the city, and locate space for jobs close to where people live or within an easy commute.”

“Through the many surveys, open houses, workshops, pop up booths and stakeholder meetings – including with the organizers of this gathering at City Hall – we have heard unequivocally that residents want an actionable approach for the city that is inclusive of everyone and focuses on creating more housing, supporting the local economy and addressing the climate crisis.”

Concept sketch of the future Central Broadway skyline as the result of the Broadway Plan. (City of Vancouver)

Draft land uses and heights of the Broadway Plan, March 2022. (City of Vancouver)