From brown to green? Planning for sustainability in the development of Southeast False Creek

Abstract

Southeast False Creek is an area of largely derelict industrial land close to the downtown core of Vancouver that is currently being planned as a model "sustainable community." The initiative has evolved over the past decade as in response to Vancouver City policy initiatives and pressure from environmental and social justice activists and concerned design professionals. By the end of 2000, the City had developed a set of policies for the site and began developing an Official Development Plan. The project has been subject to a tug of war over how "sustainable" the end product should be, and whether the land should be turned into a mixed use community or devoted to some other purpose, such as a park. In the current conception, both a community and a park are envisioned.

This report analyzes the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of urban sustainability of the South East False Creek plan. Both the substance and process achieved thus far are evaluated from the vantage point of an "ideal" urban sustainable planning process.