In Our View: Visions for Vancouver

What makes Vancouver special?

No, really, city officials would like to know, so they have set up an online survey (cityofvancouver.us/whatsnext) asking everyone who lives, works, or plays here what makes the city special. To help narrow the seemingly infinite possibilities, a few suggestions are provided: Business and employment opportunities; good schools; the community’s rich history; parks and trails; family friendly; art, music, culture; close to Portland; and affordable. There also is room for write-in nominations, just in case you are a particularly big fan of Old Apple Tree Park or you want to give a shout-out to Frenchman’s Bar Park.

Yet while it’s always fun to recount Vancouver’s many attributes, that isn’t the purpose of the survey. No, the goal is to help formulate plans for what should come next for the city. Which means the name of the project — “What’s Next Vancouver: Envisioning Our City’s Future” — is particularly prescient. After answering the question about what makes Vancouver special, respondents can do some heavy lifting: What is the community missing?; and which community projects or programs should be a priority in the next five years if money is no object?

The possibilities are thought-provoking. So, while we’re guessing the responses are nonbinding, we’ll have a go at them.

• What makes Vancouver special?

Well, there is the quick and easy access to Whistler Resort and Victoria and the Canadian Rockies … oops, wrong Vancouver. And while residents likely are weary of having their city confused with the Vancouver to the north, we have plenty to offer in our own right. We’ll go with affordability and family friendliness and outdoor recreation opportunities. And if you feel compelled to get out of town, there is easy access to the mountains and the beach, plus Portland and Seattle. Few locales offer such rich variety for what can be a day trip or a weekend excursion.

• What do you think Vancouver is missing?

Quick and easy access to Whistler Resort and Victoria and … just kidding. Well, a waterfront development would be nice, but we’re working on that one. The city also is missing an oil-by-rail terminal — but that’s a good thing to be missing. Seriously, though, more affordable housing would be a benefit to many citizens and would help address the cycle of poverty; while such poverty is common in all urban settings, Vancouver’s apartment vacancy rate is particularly low, indicating a lack of affordable options.

• Which projects should be a priority?

City officials cleverly phrased this question on the survey: “Dream big! Let’s imagine: the City of Vancouver has just discovered a historic document from one of Vancouver’s pioneer families that provides a legacy gift of hundreds of millions of dollars! The sole condition is that it must be spent in the next five years on community projects or programs. What would be your three top priorities for spending this newly discovered gift?”

To start with, let’s move the railroad tracks away from the Columbia River waterfront. We’re guessing that if every city in the country could start from scratch, none of them would put freeways or railroad tracks along their waterfront.

Next, let’s replace that Interstate 5 Bridge, with light rail being possible in the future but not included at the moment.

And, finally, a Las Vegas excursion for everybody in town. And Hawaii. Las Vegas and Hawaii.

Hey, they said to dream big!