A provocative proposal to address Vancouver's housing crisis by developing under-utilized land at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) grounds is gaining public attention through a letter to the editor.
Rethinking Prime City Land
The idea emerged in response to the city's plans for new rental housing near Main and Terminal. The writer suggests that the vast, under-used PNE property represents a significant missed opportunity for addressing the city's critical shortage of affordable homes.
The proposal identifies three specific areas of the PNE grounds that could be transformed: the east parking lot north of Playland, the space where the Show Mart and Foods buildings previously stood, and even Empire field with creative architectural solutions.
Detailed Development Vision
For the east parking lot, the plan envisions potentially eight highrise condo towers with a parkade serving both the new residents and existing PNE and Hastings Park Race Track needs underneath. The area alongside Renfrew Street, previously home to temporary fair structures, could accommodate highrise housing with covered ground-level stalls designed for vendors to use during the annual PNE fair.
An even more ambitious suggestion involves building housing over Empire field, which would make the field weather-independent while adding residential capacity. The proposal includes extending the Route 4 Powell trolley bus approximately three blocks to Bridgeview Street to provide adequate transit access.
Broader Political and Social Context
The housing proposal appears alongside other significant letters addressing pressing Canadian issues. One letter calls for B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad to step aside and allow a leadership race, arguing that only the NDP benefits from the current controversy.
Another letter criticizes what it describes as Carney's "lop-sided budget" that directs funds toward corporate and military projects while constraining social programs. The writer argues that more resources should flow directly to Canadians struggling with food and housing costs rather than primarily benefiting large corporate contractors.
These diverse perspectives collectively highlight the interconnected challenges facing British Columbia and Canada regarding urban development, political leadership, and economic policy priorities.
