As Vancouver pushes to densify Kitsilano with multiplexes and purposed built rentals, residents ask: Will new housing come at the cost of neighborhood charm—or finally deliver the amenities this community needs?

The City of Vancouver’s Villages Planning Program (Shape Your City, 2024) promises to transform 25 neighborhoods into walkable hubs with housing and services. But in Kitsilano—where key intersections like Macdonald/16th and Macdonald/King Edward are slated for growth—the debate centers on whether “missing middle” housing will enhance livability or strain existing infrastructure.

The Villages Vision: More Than Just Housing

Approved in 2022, the Vancouver Plan targets 17 neighborhoods (including Kitsilano) for mixed-use development:

  • Low-rise apartments (up to 6 storeys) and multiplexes to ease housing shortages.
  • Local business corridors with shops, cafes, and services within a 15-minute walk.
    Yet skeptics worry density could outpace amenities. “We need more than just units—we need clinics, childcare, and green space,” argues a Kitsilano resident at the December 2024 community open house.

Kitsilano’s Hotspots: Where Change is Coming

Focus areas include:

  • Macdonald/16th: Envisioned as a pedestrian-friendly zone linking Jericho Beach to schools.
  • Macdonald/King Edward: Slated for mid-rise housing near transit, but lacking grocery stores.

Community Input: Shaping the Trade-Offs

The City’s phased timeline prioritizes resident feedback:

  1. Villages Today (2024-25): Assessing gaps in amenities vs. housing targets.
  2. Draft Plan (2025-26): Balancing developer proposals with community demands.
    An online survey revealed top concerns: preserving tree canopy, expanding recreation centers, and avoiding “amenity lag.”

Conclusion
The Villages Plan’s success hinges on synchronizing housing growth with infrastructure. For Kitsilano, the next two years will test whether density can coexist with the laid-back lifestyle that defines the neighborhood.

WBN News - Kitsilano Edition

Engage with Bready
Have thoughts on Kitsilano’s development? Share this article and tag me on LinkedIn—or join the City’s next workshop to voice your vision.

Tags: #WBN News - Kitsilano Edition #Kitsilano #Kits #Bready Wu #Kitsilano Development #Vancouver Villages Program #Urban Livability

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