Ep. 111: What is a Citizen City?

Guest: Gregory Henriquez, Vancouver Architect

Gregory Henriquez is the architect that re-imagined the old Woodwards site, turning it into a model of community redevelopment.

It is a model that respects the needs of the Downtown Eastside and appreciates the market value of the site. He says that he was motivated by his belief "that a complete society needs to be inclusive and reflect the diversity of our population – a city that has the goal of embracing inclusivity and finding ways to enable it to be as good as it can be."

Henriquez has shared his insights in a new book, "Citizen City." He contends, "The goal is to create physical environments that reflect the nature of our society and how we can nurture it to make sure that the urban environment is something that allows everyone to feel at home."

He goes on to say, "It sounds simplistic, but by working with marginalized populations, you start to understand the sense of place we feel as privileged Vancouverites isn't always the same as for people who have challenges."