There’s no more exciting moment for some people in this town than when Vancouver hits the New York Times. Here’s the latest, a huuuuge article on Woodward’s.
The New York Times coverage of Vancouver’s Woodward’s redevelopment represents a defining moment for the city’s international reputation. The comprehensive piece, titled “Vancouver Redevelopment Project Doubles as Social Experiment,” showcased the massive 1.1-million-square-foot, $500 million CAD project as one of North America’s most ambitious urban social experiments.
What made this Times coverage particularly significant was its portrayal of Vancouver’s bold attempt to address homelessness and urban poverty through innovative mixed-income housing. The article highlighted the unusual partnership between luxury developer Ian Gillespie of Westbank Projects and affordable housing advocate-architect Gregory Henriquez – unlikely collaborators creating something unprecedented.
The development combined 536 market-rate condominiums with 200 affordable rental units, Simon Fraser University’s School for Contemporary Arts, retail spaces, and nonprofit offices under one interconnected roof. The Times captured the project’s provocative marketing slogan: “Be Bold or Move to Suburbia,” which epitomized Vancouver’s willingness to experiment with unconventional urban solutions.
For Vancouver, landing prominently in the New York Times real estate section represented validation of its urban planning philosophy and “Vancouverism” – the city’s distinctive approach to high-density, mixed-use development. The international attention reinforced Vancouver’s reputation as a progressive city willing to tackle complex social issues through innovative architecture and urban design, especially ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
