A motion to revitalize the city’s West End waterfront was passed by the Vancouver Park Board after a lengthy discussion Monday night.
The staff report brought three recommendations forward to council, including approving a new vision for the infamous waterfront, beginning work on the vision and securing funding to carry out future strategies.
As climate change increases the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, the recommendations were made, in part, to protect Vancouver’s iconic downtown beachfront from future harm.
“It aims to address the pressures facing the West End waterfront, which include climate change, ever-increasing visitation, and the need to provide services for a West End population that will continue to grow dramatically over the next 30 years,” the report reads.
All three parts of the motion were passed 4-2, with councillors Tom Digby, Laura Christensen, Brennan Bastyovanszky and Scott Jensen voting for, and Angela Haer and Jas Virdi voting against. An amendment to refer Part B of the motion, which directs staff to begin implementation of phase one of the vision, to city staff, was also passed.
The new vision is composed of seven phases, which will include installing a raingarden, additional tree canopy, wider plazas and walkways, a tidal meadow, and a viewing deck on an elevated walkway, among other features. The plan also includes raising English Bay and surrounding parks and beaches to protect them from rising sea levels.
The estimated cost for Phase One is $16 million, the city states. Overall, the framework is expected to take 30 years with construction beginning by 2026.