Feature Stories
The Woodward's Experiment
By Michael Harris published Sep 1, 2009
Who says East is East, West is West, and never the twain shall meet?
From his book-crammed office on the sixth floor of the Dominion Building on Hastings, Jim Green has monitored the reinvention of Woodward’s. If Woodward’s is anyone’s baby, it’s his. Beginning in 1985 (five years before the store was shuttered), Green led the community lobby for its transformation into a complex that would draw all elements of the city into one mixed-use mecca. His opening came in 2003 as the province, which owned the land, was trying to get a reticent COPE city council to sign off on the Olympic bid. When Gordon Campbell asked how he could get council’s support for the 2010 Games, Green, a COPE kingpin, gave a list. One element: “I need Woodward’s.” The deal they struck: the City bought the whole block for $5.5 million. (It was valued at four times that.) And somewhere in there, the Olympics got a new tag: “The inclusive Olympics.” Green believes the urban experiment that followed will be mimicked in other cities. “I’ve studied this for a long time,” he says, “and there’s nothing like this anywhere in the world.”
At the fractious joint between the Downtown Eastside and the posh towers to its west, architect Gregory Henriquez has designed a new kind of urban hub. In its conjoined towers are one million square feet of market and non-market homes, government and nonprofit offices, a contemporary art school for SFU, a grocery store and other retailers, and a childcare facility. On one city block, this microcosm of the city wreathes a central courtyard that has the potential of a train station. “The whole city should be mixed-use,” Henriquez says. “Anything less is a tragic mistake. Human lives are not meant to exist in compartments.”
In one complex, lower-income residents have bicycle-friendly access off Hastings; wealthier residents, in the W tower, have their own entrance on Cordova and will lounge on their rooftop in a W-shaped jacuzzi that echoes the historic Woodward’s signage; and 10 units have been designed for those with physical disabilities. They will all rub elbows in the central pedestrian mall. One might wonder whether this arrangement rejects ghettos and gentrification or merely represents the most pragmatic form of them. Happiness theory suggests that people get miserable when class distinctions are thrown in their faces, but “Woodward’s extends happiness theory,” says Henriquez, “to challenge each of us to look into the face of the other and see yourself in it.”
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Wow, that`s a.. strange looking building. I like it. Reminds me of Times Square, especially on this picture.. http://www.monniblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/dominion1.jpg
Regards,
Bensinkort
Woodwards is a metaphor for Vancouver's brand of the politics of political correctness. The poverty pimps' monument to their astounding power to build a trendy ghetto that will never be moved. And its political power to force the govt to create the most expensive social housing in the country. It may be euphemistically called 'non-market' housing, but the opportunity cost of providing such housing in an expensive downtown area is very real and market. It may be idealistic to imagine that yuppies or whatever label we use for the 'rich' will actually pay hundreds of thousands of hard earned dollars to live and risk their lives in a complex along with welfare people. Or on the same street with druggies and dealers and pimps. It's a fact, I guess, that the apartments have really been sold. But, the let's see if it lasts and what really happens because its success will depend on a radical change in human nature. And we can see the real side of human nature outside on Hastings.
Here's a taste of what Woodwards will probably descend into hell. Mrs. Hicks, descends from her apartment and struggles past the dealers and pimps, carefully avoiding all the needles in the park. Meanwhile, the meth dealer, Big Dog, sees that she has left her apartment. He signals to one of his boys to lead the crew up to her place. They jimmy her door and strip her place clean- the Sony flatscreen, Miehl microwave and Kitchen Aid blender vanish and later appear amongst the other hot goods sold in a bar on Hastings. Of course, the police can't help her because who'd ever cooperate with the Nazi police in an enlightened 'hood like Woodwards. And the social workers. Well, they just think Mrs. Hicks got what was coming to her- "Yuppie scum just made a contribution to the poor. Right?"
Is Woodwards just a prize for Jim Green, who finally made 'the man' cough up for the poor? Or is this simply a naive hope that by making yuppies pay for the privilege of living next to junkies and criminals we can all hold hands and sing, "We are the world...?" Aside from sheer, unjustified hope is there any logic that shows that goodness and mercy shall certainly follow and poverty, drugs and homelessness will vanish from Downtown Eastside because Woodwards will be a shining example of how society can work together? Can you really live in that area without being robbed blind by the druggies looking to set up their next fix?
Obviously, Woodwards would be a great location for drug dealers and pimps- it's their prime office location. I love the selective and optimistic examples used in this article. Where are the dealers, pimps, thieves and other assorted subversives? Have any of you asked existing Yuppie residents in the area how it's like to live there? They'll tell you about the high risk of burglary, damage to your car (not Porsche, but Honda) from vandalism and people urinating in the entrance. So all of a sudden you think everyone will behave like they live on Sesame Street if you install some trendy architecture? Why don't we just name this as Jim Green's pyramid.
High minded social activists conveniently forget that human nature can't be changed. I'd be the first person to join Mrs. Hicks as a neighbour if Woodwards actually works. But, common sense says Woodwards will be a neighbourood more suitable for Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver) or maybe Dirty Harry- because that's who we'll need to clean it up.
I believe that mixed-use is a good idea so I wish the Woodward's residents luck. However, while Vancouver's poverty industry does a great job of standing up for the poor, there are few people looking out for the rest of us. Too often, those "yuppies" (who pay for everything) are trampled on and made to feel unwelcome in their city. Give us a break for once - we're not all homeless hating thugs. Let's hope that the "non-market" (wow, what a euphemism) residents are willing to respect their neighbours this time. Fingers crossed that the Woodwards can achieve the ideals of its planners.
Thanks for the kind words. Now we're interested to see the Stan Douglas mural that's being installed in the next couple weeks in the Woodward's pedestrian mall. A massive portrayal of the Gastown Riots that took place in 1971. Should be an extraordinary (and challenging) addition to the urban landscape.
This is a fabulous article, which gets to the very essence of the Woodward's Experiment. Are we as a society ready for Inclusive Cities which reflect the true diversity of the Canadian Mosaic? Are we ready for a new form of inclusive democracy? Woodwards is a symbol of what is possible when enlightened individuals in power allow themselves to dream of empowering others.
