Looking Back and Forward: Vancouver’s Changing Urban Development Landscape

SFU Continuing Studies (City Program)

Michael Geller with respondents Ray Spaxman, Michael Epp and Zoe Brook

SFU Harbour Centre Fletcher Challenge Canada Theatre (Room 1900)

Since arriving in Vancouver in 1974, Michael Geller has witnessed spectacular growth and urban change in the City of Vancouver and its region. While there have been many successes and triumphs, there remain major housing, social and economic challenges.In this talk, Michael will share his perspective on which planning and housing policies have worked and which have not. He will also offer practical solutions to improve the region’s future planning, development and housing affordability.Following his presentation, a panel of past, present, and emerging planning and development practitioners will respond to Michael’s provocations, adding their own observations on Vancouver’s changing urban landscape. T﻿his event will also be <a href="https://www.sfu.ca/information-systems/services/event-recording-and-livestreaming/livestream/2023/10/2022-10-18-city.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">live streamed online</a>.

About Michael GellerMichael Geller, FCIP, RPP, MLAI, is a well-known urban planner, real estate consultant, property developer and retired architect with five decades of experience in the public, private and institutional sectors. He serves on the adjunct faculty of the SFU Centre for Sustainable Development and School of Resource and Environmental Management. A former official with CMHC, he is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and past president of the Urban Development Institute. He travels extensively and is a frequent writer and commentator on urban issues.

Ray Spaxman, LLD ARIBA (Rtd), MRTPI (Rtd), FCIP (Rtd), Hon AIBCRay Spaxman, architect and planner, had 60 years of international experience in planning and urban design before retiring in 2016. He worked in public service in Coventry, Norfolk and Liverpool in England and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. As director of planning for the City for Vancouver between 1973 and 1989, he led the work in establishing public participation and community engagement in planning and initiated the City’s unique development approvals processes and a form of development that became internationally recognized as Vancouverism. As president of Ray Spaxman Consulting Ltd., he has advised private and public sector clients across North America and internationally.

Michael Epp, MCIP, RPP, Director of Housing Planning and Development, Metro VancouverMichael Epp is a land use and community planner whose work has ranged from neighbourhood planning and visioning projects in New York City neighbourhoods, to managing planning departments in B.C. communities. As director of planning in the City of North Vancouver, Michael championed policies that significantly increased the rental and non-market housing supply, with the City of North Vancouver one of only a small number of municipalities that delivered targeted levels of housing. In his current role, Michael is leading the delivery of 2,000 new affordable homes across the region and advancing policies to help ensure at least 15 per cent of new housing is affordable.

Zoe Brook, BCom, Principal, Brook Development ManagementZoe Brook is a full-spectrum development manager specializing in mixed-use, transit-oriented projects in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Her experience is underscored by a $1.5-billion, 1,400-unit track record of multi-phase rental and condominium developments with associated affordable housing, retail, office and public uses. Zoe co-chairs the Urban Land Institute BC’s Young Leaders Group, a committee of real estate professionals helping to shape the region’s conversation in land use planning and development.

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