Photo by Larry Beasley
Vancouverism
By Larry Beasley (UBC Press, 2019)
REVIEW Sean Ruthen
It?s been about a decade since the term ?Vancouverism? entered the popular lexicon. Also known as the ?Vancouver Model,? we see it typified by glass towers with spectacular views of the sea and mountains, set amidst a rich and variegated public realm. In his new book, Larry Beasley, the city?s former co-director of planning, revisits Vancouverism?s origins, celebrates its successes, and suggests possible solutions for the affordable and social housing crisis the city currently faces.
For as Vancouverites know, much has happened in those ten years?including the sea change with our provincial government, made inevitable by the outgoing government?s denial of the emerging affordable housing crisis. By looking the other way while Metro Vancouver and other housing markets replaced aging low- and mid-market housing stock with luxury condominiums, all three levels of government have been responsible for the current mess. In the first few pages, Beasley enumerates what the book is not: including that it is not a silver bullet for the city?s problems. And since he left the City in 2006, Beasley has been vocal in criticizing the development industry?s preference for building luxury housing (sold to speculative buyers and investors) over normal housing stock for locals. Several years ago, I heard Beasley speak to a room full of developers at a UDI luncheon. You can imagine their surprise when he ...