Pace of Vancouver development killing Downtown Eastside urban agriculture, group claims
'Our operation is, physically, as homeless as the people we employ'
A non-profit urban agriculture group in Vancouver says development on the False Creek Flats and the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaduct lands is threatening its operation.
Sole Food employs about 30 people — most of whom face barriers like poverty or addiction issues — and grows about 25 tonnes of food each year on four temporary spaces, including unused lots.
But as those lots become less unused, executive director Michael Ableman says he worries where they will go next.
"Our operation is, physically, as homeless as the people we employ," he said. "Examples of food production in the city ... positive employment models for people from the Downtown Eastside, are those things important?
"If so, we need to set those as priorities in the changes that are happening. … set aside some land to secure it."
Ableman says Sole Food has always known its locations were impermanent, but in the past, it could count on moving somewhere else.
He's not so sure that will be so easy these days.
'A positive choice in their lives'
Ableman says Sole Food has already lost some of its space at the corner of Main and Terminal for a new social housing project and it has also lost the lease for its operation underneath the viaducts and will have to leave by November.
It has secured an extension to the lease on the farm under the First Avenue Viaduct and its original location at the Astoria Hotel in the Downtown Eastside "continues to limp along," but Ableman says an air of precariousness surrounds all its sites.
"The moment there is a higher and better use, which really means 'more money,' we have to leave. That's just the reality of it," he said.
He says while development is a reality and will bring some social housing that his employees would benefit from, local food production and low-barrier employment need to be part of the equation.
"Our primary mandate is the hiring and training of individuals from the Downtown Eastside and providing them, essentially, a reason to get out of bed every day and a positive choice in their lives."
Ableman has proposed the creation of an "agriculture park" in Vancouver where Sole Food can farm in a permanent location while also educating the public on food systems.