Vancouver's 'EcoDensity' Plans Stumble

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan's highly-touted push for "EcoDensity" in the city has fallen apart lately, according to columnist Trevor Boddy.

1 minute read

October 13, 2007, 9:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"The idealist in me waits for a bold set of recommendations from Mayor Sullivan, but the student of real-politik in me is doubtful."

"The mayor and his Non-Partisan Association colleagues are in fund-raising mode, and the development industry is getting uneasy about the EcoDensity push. Sure, developers like density, but they like predictability even more, and this is a fundamentally conservative industry that has prospered by getting things done behind closed doors. As demonstrated by significant development industry support for Vision Vancouver's Jim Green in our last civic election, developers are less interested in ideology than in getting someone they can work with in the mayor and councillors' seats."

"Complicating Mayor Sullivan's diminishing options for an EcoDensity policy is city hall's bungling of communications on proposed land use changes in the Norquay neighbourhood, along Kingsway on the far Eastside. Opponents have risen in noisy opposition to mild proposals for slightly increased housing densities along their pleasant streets, and the Norquay proposals have been widely reported as the first public test of EcoDensity."

Friday, October 5, 2007 in The Globe & Mail

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business