Davie Village Garden Update

Good afternoon Gardeners!  

Thank you for your continued patience with the development of the Davie Village Garden. 

Recently, Vancouver Public Space Network (VPSN) representatives had a meeting with Prima Properties (the Davie Village Garden developers). Our hope going into the meeting was to finalize the license agreement between Prima Properties and VPSN, and to determine if the developers were willing to make the changes to the garden bed structure that we had proposed.

On both counts, it appears there is still work to be done. Unfortunately, we were not able to resolve the needed changes to the license at the meeting. Our concern with the license as it stands right now is that too much liability (for example, the risk of slipping and falling by the general public) is being put on to VPSN, even though we do not own the property.

Since VPSN is made up of volunteers, we don't have the ability to bear that risk or to insure against it in order to protect our volunteer organizers. Ultimately, if VPSN cannot resolve this issue with Prima - we will have to re-assess our role in the Davie Village Garden going forward. In light of the outcome of the meeting, we are reviewing this licensing issue - and the potential for further changes - with our Board of Directors.

Concerning the garden's design, Prima has said that they are not able to make the changes to the garden beds that we proposed. You will recall that we felt that raising the beds and installing vapour barriers would be important and needed modifications - both to ensure that your plants will have sufficient growing medium, and to mitigate any potential concerns regarding contamination arising from the site's former use as a gas station.  

Prima has suggested that they will speak to their suppliers to see if any donations of materials are available; however, it appears that this will not cover the costs of building raised beds (lumber, brackets, etc.), or labour costs. We has hoped, given that the site is temporary that the developer might be willing to invest in these additional capital costs. However, in an attempt to try to move forward on this point, we agreed that we would ask the gardeners how they felt about paying an additional materials cost to help on this front.

I've created a two question survey to collect your responses, please fill it out here - Survey 

Please note that this survey is only to get a general sense of whether people are supportive of paying an additional materials cost to raise the beds or not. No one will be required to pay based on their response to this survey.


We understand that you are probably eager to get gardening and understand that the resolution of these aforementioned issues has, thus far, taken longer then originally anticipated. We will do our best to update you on the situation in the next week or two. 

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions,

Emily Jubenvill
Community Garden Coordinator
Vancouver Public Space Network