Taking Actions for Secure and Clean Redevelopment Sites

In Langley City, all new housing and commercial property projects are redevelopment projects, which typically involve the demolition of older buildings. While there have always been a small number of projects that stall, the number of stalled projects has increased markedly over the last year, as the cost of construction and financing has risen, and the selling price of housing and commercial properties has declined.

As a result, we’ve seen an increase in buildings slated for demolition that are empty, properties that are poorly maintained (such as by not controlling weeds or mowing lawns), and some that are improperly secured. The results are an increase in unsightly properties, people breaking in and camping inside these properties, and fires. All of this is completely unacceptable as it creates safety risks for the whole community.

In the past, it was typically weeks between when a building was vacated and demolition occurred; now it is months or even longer.

The City has always had a team that includes development services, police, fire, and bylaws to address these types of properties, but we need to augment this approach.

The City is actively working on updating the requirements for maintaining clean and secure properties and buildings slated for demolition. For example, this will include prescriptive requirements around securing windows and doorways, site fencing, property maintenance, and monitoring. These requirements will be communicated to existing site owners who have projects going through the redevelopment process, and they will be a requirement for all new redevelopment projects. Council may also need to update policies. These changes are happening ASAP.

As I noted, the best action is to have a very small window between when a building is vacated and when it is demolished. Even so, enhancing requirements for maintaining secure and clean properties will benefit the entire community now and into the future.

Transit Advocacy in Ottawa for TransLink Mayors’ Council: Day 2

Transit is a key to making life affordable, reducing congestion, and growing the economy, allowing people more access to jobs and opportunity.

Mayor Linda Buchanan (from the City of North Vancouver) and I are in Ottawa for two days, advocating for increased transit funding for Metro Vancouver on behalf of the TransLink Mayors’ Council. This advocacy includes funding for enhanced bus service, bus rapid transit, and rapid transit.

Mayor Buchanan delivered the keynote address and call to action around transit funding at the Canadian Urban Transit Association Policy Forum, noting that you cannot build housing without building transit, and that we need the federal government to come to the table, as transit is key to meeting their housing objectives and strengthening the Canadian economy.

Later in the day, on a panel, I spoke about the importance of building grassroots support for improving transit, as that is the only way to attract local, provincial, and federal dollars to expand our systems to meet our growing needs.

We then met with MP Taleeb Noormohamed, MP Wade Grant, and MP Jake Sawatzky to discuss a “Team BC” approach to ensuring the federal government invests in transit for our province and Metro Vancouver.

Transit Advocacy in Ottawa for TransLink Mayors’ Council: Day 1

Transit is a key to making life affordable, reducing congestion, and growing the economy, allowing people more access to jobs and opportunity.

Yesturday and today, Mayor Linda Buchanan and I are in Ottawa on behalf of the TransLink Mayors' Council advocating for increased transit funding for Metro Vancouver. This advocacy includes funding for enhanced bus service, BRT, and rapid transit.

Today, Mayor Buchanan will also deliver the keynote address at the Canadian Urban Transit Association Policy Forum, and I will be on the panel “Funding the Future of Canadian Transit.” Then more advocacy to MPs!

Federal Policies Mean 2026 Population Decline in Metro Vancouver

Over the past few years, population growth has been significantly higher than typical in Metro Vancouver. While the typical growth rate has been between 1% and 2%, starting around 2021, population growth increased to approximately 4.5%. This higher growth rate put strain on local government services, among other things.

Metro Vancouver Regional District growth rate. LG = Low Growth, MG = Medium Growth, and HG = High Growth. Select the chat to enlarge.

With the recent change in federal immigration policies, the Metro Vancouver Regional District projects that the region’s population will decline by approximately 0.1% in 2026 before stabilizing at around 1% annually, which has been the typical growth rate in the region. The Regional District’s staff report does note that “until federal policies stabilize, projections will remain more volatile and subject to change.”

From a local government services delivery standpoint, it should allow us to catch up a bit. I’m hopeful other orders of government will do the same.

The following map highlights that, over the long term, immigration is expected to drive population growth in Metro Vancouver.

Projected annual average medium growth migrations for Metro Vancouver between 2028 and 2054. Select the map to enlarge.

Metro Vancouver’s population is expected to reach 4 million by 2047. Langley City’s population in 2024 was estimated to be 35,316, and is projected to be around 45,000 by 2047, according to the region's updated medium growth modelling.