A confidential plan to revitalize VancouverS Downtown Eastside (DTES), leaked on October 30, 2024, has ignited a firestorm of controversy.The memo, drafted by Mayor Ken Sim‘s chief of staff, Trevor Ford, outlines a strategy to address public safety, drug use, and the overall state of the city’s poorest neighborhood.the plan proposes meaningful changes, including expedited private advancement approvals and an extensive review of non-profit services in the area.
The leaked document details a controversial proposal to facilitate the return of DTES residents to their home communities. A particularly sensitive aspect,present in the original October memo but removed from a later version,specifically addressed Indigenous residents. The original memo stated: “Many members of the Indigenous community have expressed a desire to live in their home Nations. Some local Nations are open to welcoming their members return to the community. Re-unification is a meaningful step forward toward reconciliation.”
The mayor’s office, when asked for comment, provided a revised version of the memo with softened language.Both versions include the new housing policy announced last month by Mayor Sim, which halts the approval of any “net new” supportive housing until other regional municipalities increase their contributions. They also incorporate measures to crack down on street vending and intensify efforts against drug dealers, mirroring recent announcements from the mayor and police.
The October memo highlights the need for a “comprehensive review” of the 60 or more non-profit organizations operating in the DTES. It acknowledges a previous attempt at such a review in 2008, but emphasizes that “part of breaking the poverty cycle will be to reassess how city funding is granted and, if possible, work with the province and federal governments to track their funding envelope as well.”
The memo also suggests using “spot rezoning”—expediting rezoning for individual sites—a tactic described as “a tool that we would typically not use…However, to be smart about how we bring this about, we will have to make hard decisions quickly to get the outcome we desire.”
The updated January version replaces this with a call for a review of the DTES area plan implementation.
This approach contrasts sharply with a November 2023 policy, “Uplifting the downtown Eastside and Building Inclusive Communities that Work for All Residents,” introduced by then-ABC Councillor Rebecca bligh. Bligh’s policy, unanimously approved by council, advocated a more collaborative approach, emphasizing economic development for existing residents and businesses and a more equitable distribution of supportive housing across the region. council is scheduled to receive a 42-page staff report next week in response to Bligh’s 2023 initiative.
Mayor Sim’s chief of staff, Trevor Ford, defended the memo as an “internal working document meant to inform discussions and explore ideas,”
emphasizing that “any actions taken from this document would be presented publicly as a motion through the standard processes.”
Though, the memo’s confidential nature and its apparent divergence from the previously approved, collaborative approach have raised serious concerns.
The document asserts that past efforts to improve the DTES have been counterproductive,stating: “The impacts on community,resources,and finances are no longer lasting for the city and its residents and businesses…actually,our efforts intensified the dual crises at the DTES. The disproportionate distribution of MHSU services across the region creates the necessity for people who use substances to either go without these life-saving services or to travel to Vancouver to obtain these services.”
Councillor Bligh, who was expelled from the ABC party last week, believes the mayor’s recent actions reflect the plan’s intentions. She strongly criticizes the plan, stating: “this is cutting the area up into pieces and moving people out of the Downtown Eastside, re-traumatizing people. This IS a gentrification plan. Every aspect of it is indeed to gentrify the Downtown Eastside.”
Green Party Councillor Pete Fry, who also obtained a copy of the memo, expressed concern over the plan’s framing and its confidential distribution to only ABC councillors, stating: “They are making these decisions behind closed doors.”
Curious Puzzle: will Revitalizing the Downtown Eastside Usher in Uplift or Displacement?
Is the controversial Downtown Eastside revitalization plan poised to bring genuine community uplift, or is it merely a schematic for gentrification under the guise of progress? This exclusive interview with City Planning Expert Dr. Eleanor Hastings delves deep into the undercurrents shaping Vancouver’s DTES landscape.
Senior Editor: Dr. Hastings, the leaked memo on the Downtown Eastside (DTES) revitalization plan has sparked a wide array of reactions. How do initiatives like these usually impact urban neighborhoods, and what are the key factors we should observe?
Dr. Eleanor Hastings: Initiatives aimed at revitalizing urban neighborhoods, especially ones as complex and historically significant as the DTES, require a careful balance between immediate improvements and long-term sustainability.Typically, such plans can either lead to genuine revitalization or, alarmingly, kickstart gentrification processes. Key factors to observe include the involvement of local communities in planning processes, the approach to affordable and supportive housing, and the strategies for economic inclusion of existing residents. It is imperative to look past surface-level improvements and examine who benefits from these changes over time.
Senior Editor: Controversial aspects of the plan seem especially focused on expedited rezoning and the controversial proposition of returning DTES residents, including Indigenous members, to their home communities. what are the implications of such strategies on these communities?
Dr. Eleanor hastings: Expedited rezoning, when not executed with complete community consultation, often paves the way for real estate developments that prioritize profit over community welfare.This can lead to real estate speculation,which typically hikes property values and living costs,pushing out marginalized communities. The sensitive aspect of relocating DTES residents, particularly Indigenous peoples, must be approached with culturally sensitive frameworks that genuinely support these individuals’ desires and needs.The risk here is further dislocation and disenfranchisement, especially if the decision-making happens without robust community-led processes.
Senior Editor: There appears to be a stark divergence in approaches, with the proposed plan contrasting the 2023 initiative by Councillor Rebecca Bligh. How significant is incorporating past prosperous models into current urban planning efforts?
Dr. Eleanor Hastings: Incorporating past successful models is crucial. It ensures continuity in policy success and supports cumulative community benefits.councillor Bligh’s 2023 initiative, “Uplifting the downtown Eastside,” sought a collaborative, inclusive approach that favored economic and housing equity within the DTES. Revisiting and building on such models can foster enduring advancement. Ignoring previous policy successes can lead to repeated mistakes and the erasure of community progress, resulting in temporary improvements that don’t last and may even harm long-term community welfare.
Senior Editor: The leaked memo suggests past city efforts have inadvertently aggravated crises. Can you elucidate on how policy missteps can intensify social issues within urban areas?
Dr. Eleanor Hastings: Policy missteps frequently enough arise from solutions that focus on short-term alleviation without addressing root causes, leading to displaced issues rather than resolutions. As an example, stringent ordinances and displacement-focused policies may temporarily reduce visible problems like street vending or panhandling but can exacerbate underlying issues such as homelessness and substance use by limiting access to support services. This fragmentation can drive individuals into unregulated environments and exacerbate social crises. A holistic, integrated approach that targets root causes and includes comprehensive support frameworks is necessary to break such cycles.
Senior Editor: What role does public scrutiny and transparency play in ensuring the success of urban revitalization projects?
Dr. Eleanor Hastings: Public scrutiny and transparency are essential to the success of any urban revitalization project. These components engender trust, ensure accountability, and incorporate diverse perspectives into planning processes. When plans are drawn up behind closed doors, as the memo suggests, it leads to exclusionary practices and untoward suspicion among affected communities. Publicly engaging citizens at all stages of planning fosters community buy-in, minimizes resistance, and ensures that projects align with the community’s needs and aspirations. Transparency in decision-making processes and open forums for dialogue can lead to more equitable and sustainable outcomes.
Senior Editor: How might the DTES community and policymakers reconcile the discrepancies between the plan and community needs to achieve meaningful, lasting changes?
Dr. Eleanor Hastings: Reconciling these discrepancies begins with tailored, inclusive dialogue and participatory planning. Policymakers should establish consistent feedback loops with the DTES community, ensuring residents have a meaningful voice in reshaping their neighborhood. It’s essential to validate and act upon community-led proposals and to incorporate the diverse needs of residents into all facets of policy. Equitable distribution of supportive housing, local economic development investments that prioritize existing businesses, and partnership with non-profits can collectively bolster community resilience. Ensuring policy alignment with community visions will pave the way for legitimate, lasting transformation.
Closing Insights: Revitalization Means Inclusion
In our quest for urban renewal, we must not lose sight of those who have called these neighborhoods home for generations. Authentic revitalization hinges on inclusive dialogue and equitable chance distribution.As we reflect on the DTES controversy, let us champion initiatives that foster genuine community upliftment over those that propagate displacement. Share your thoughts in the comments or join the conversation on social media—what’s your view on true revitalization?
