18-Cambie - Proposed Upgrades

Background: 

Throughout the pandemic, the City partnered with community organizations to create 20 pop-up plazas in neighbourhood hubs throughout the city. Communities have embraced these outdoor gathering spaces to socialize, share a coffee or a meal, enjoy a small concert, or simply sit and rest as they run their errands. The City is committed to working with our partners and the broader communities they serve to improve and upgrade these outdoor gathering spaces, most of which are quite basic. 

This survey will be open until March 24, 2022.

Paper copies are available on request, and can be submitted by mail.

Goals:

As we make steps to have these spaces become semi-permanent*  fixtures in these neighbbourhoods, we're seeking input and direction from residents on the types of upgrades or concepts these plazas should grow into.

The City is planning to improve this Pop-Up Plaza at 18-Cambie to become a long-term, higher-quality Semi-Permanent* space.

*Semi-Permanent upgrades are intended to be in-place for 5-10 years. 

Design Concepts:

There are two options for how to improve this plaza:

"Lounge" Concept: designed to support casual use and gathering by neighbourhood communities. 

Highlights:

• Features custom furniture elements (e.g., a customized long seating and a play structure) to enable flexible seating and lounging uses

Trade-offs:

• In this design there is less space dedicated for hosting public events. As a result, this limits the size of the events that can occur in the plaza and suitably sized events could cost more to produce. Overall, the dedicated event space is smaller compared to the "Theatre" Concept 

"Theatre" Concept: designed to support more frequent small-scale public events and performances in the plaza for neighbourhood communities. 

Highlights:

• Features raised seating, a platform/stage and dedicates more space for hosting public events and performances. Includes onsite storage for commonly-used event equipment that can be accessed by plaza stewards.  

Trade-offs:

• This design would enable small public events and subsidize event costs by investing in furniture that can be used to host events, likely resulting in more frequent programming. Overall, this design may make the plaza busier and will reduce the amount of seating compared to the "Lounge" Concept