Not just any panel.. a “Blue Ribbon” panel to look at the underlying issues of housing affordability in Vancouver. I hope it’s a Pabst Blue Ribbon panel.
Saying that the high cost of housing is threatening to make Vancouver unlivable, Robertson said he wants the panel to come up with short and long-term solutions, including using more of the city’s own lands.
But he also acknowledged that the seemingly intractable issues around why Vancouver’s housing remains among the most expensive in Canada likely means his Vision Vancouver-led council won’t find solutions quickly, even within their three year term of office.
He said the “task force”, which will be named within weeks, will include advocates, architects, developers, building owners, financiers and citizens.
“They’ll identify ways we can increase Vancouver’s supply of affordable homes — both immediately, for the most urgent needs, and for the long term,” he said.
Why would they include advocates and citizens on this panel? Don’t architects, developers, building owners and financiers have all the knowledge this panel needs.
I’m no expert, but I’m guessing the advice will be something like this: Spend lots of money designing and building low income housing on city land, provide incentives to developers and building owners and encourage a system whereby financiers can skim a little more from the average Vancouverite that feels they just must get into the can’t lose housing market.
Likely not to be addressed: anything that discourages people from buying with as little down payment as possible backed up with CMHC insurance that removes risk from the lender.
