The battle over plans to tear down the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts is only beginning.
Experts say rising tensions between the City of Vancouver and the provincial government means both sides are talking – but at the moment, those discussions are less than friendly.
“We should aim for a more collaborative partnership but for now it’s a more adversarial negotiation,” says Anthony Perl, SFU Professor in Urban Studies and Political Science.
READ MORE: Vancouver City Council votes in favour of tearing down Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts
The $200 million project will avoid costly seismic upgrades of the aging viaducts, while leading to redevelopment along False Creek that will include park space and development. While some of that land belongs to the province, Transportation Minister Todd Stone says he’s had no meaningful discussions with the city.
“This is a proposal of the City of Vancouver. The onus is usually on the proponent to pull out all the stops,” says Stone.
Councillor George Meggs says the city has had numerous meetings with PavCo which owns and manages the land on the province’s behalf. He invites the Minister Stone to come to the table to see the benefits of the project.
“I think if the provincial government starts to get involved and look at the details they’ll be impressed as well,” says Meggs.
WATCH: Meggs rebuts the provincial government’s claims
The two parties are no strangers to posturing over land projects. In 2011, Vancouver Council voted down a provincially-backed bid to build a new downtown casino.
With the potential of transforming the land into a new gem at the heart of the city, the stakes of the viaduct project are just as high.
“I think there’s billions of land value that’s going to be created out of this development,” says Perl.
The City of Vancouver has given itself 18 months to come up with a design plan and negotiate land deals. The teardown of viaducts could begin by late 2017 and be complete by 2020.
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