--- title: "Underused Spaces: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026 | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/2026-platform/economic-drivers/underused-spaces" last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:01:02.823Z" meta: description: "Vote Vancouver would partner with community land trusts to turn vacant buildings into community-owned housing, expand temporary occupancy permits so empty..." "og:description": "Vote Vancouver would partner with community land trusts to turn vacant buildings into community-owned housing, expand temporary occupancy permits so empty..." "og:title": "Underused Spaces: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" "twitter:description": "Vote Vancouver would partner with community land trusts to turn vacant buildings into community-owned housing, expand temporary occupancy permits so empty..." "twitter:title": "Underused Spaces: the Vote Vancouver plan | Vancouver 2026" --- ** Vote Vancouver · Vancouver 2026 # Vote Vancouver: vacant buildings for housing, arts spaces and rooftop venues Vote Vancouver would partner with community land trusts to turn vacant buildings into community-owned housing, expand temporary occupancy permits so empty buildings can become creative spaces faster, and support the Cultural Land Trust in buying vacant shops for rehearsal and performance space. All 3 commitments [Read page 34 of the PDF ](https://votevancouver.ca/s/VV-PolicyPriorities_260915.pdf#page=34) [**12**Candidates](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/candidates) [**10/10**Issues with published policy](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/platform) [**6**Sources on file](https://voche.me/parties/vote-vancouver/money) **9**Questions answered ECONOMIC DRIVERS · PAGE 34 ## Underused Spaces: what the Policy Priorities says Vote Vancouver's page on underused spaces looks at vacant lots, houses and shops. The party says liveable communities need places beyond home and work, such as small businesses, community centres and arts spaces, and that empty buildings could serve these needs. The party's first step is housing. City Council would partner with community land trusts, which are groups that hold land so that what is built on it stays affordable, to turn vacant buildings that suit housing and community use into community-owned homes. The other two steps are for the arts. Vote Vancouver would expand temporary occupancy permits, which allow a building to be used for a limited time, so that vacant buildings can become creative and cultural spaces more quickly. It would encourage rooftop venues and the use of second floors. It would also support the Cultural Land Trust and help it buy vacant commercial spaces for rehearsal rooms, performance venues and artist workspaces. Council controls the city's permits, so it can expand temporary occupancy permits on its own. The housing and arts purchases depend on the land trusts the party names, which are independent groups the city would support. 3 COMMITMENTS ## What the party says it would do 1. ### Vacant buildings into community-owned housing Vote Vancouver says City Council would partner with Community Land Trusts to turn vacant buildings suitable for housing and community spaces into community-owned housing.
Who has the power
City, with others The land trusts are independent groups, so the city's part is support through approvals, land or money.
Source
Policy Priorities, page 34
2. ### Wider temporary occupancy permits The party would expand temporary occupancy permits so vacant buildings can be converted into creative and cultural spaces more quickly, with expansions that encourage rooftop venues and second-floor activations.
Who has the power
City Council Council controls the city's own permit process.
Source
Policy Priorities, page 34
3. ### Support for the Cultural Land Trust Vote Vancouver commits to supporting the Cultural Land Trust and efforts to preserve long-term cultural spaces, by supporting the purchase of vacant commercial spaces for rehearsal spaces, performance venues and artist workspaces across the city.
Who has the power
City, with others The trust is an independent group, and the city's part would be support for its purchases.
Source
Policy Priorities, page 34
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT ## Where the power sits for this chapter City, with others2 City Council1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ## Questions about underused spaces
What would Vote Vancouver do with vacant buildings? Vote Vancouver would partner with community land trusts to turn vacant buildings into community-owned housing, and expand temporary occupancy permits so empty buildings can become creative and cultural spaces faster (Policy Priorities, page 34).
Does Vote Vancouver support rooftop venues? Yes. The party would expand temporary occupancy permits in ways that encourage rooftop venues and the use of second floors for creative and cultural spaces (Policy Priorities, page 34).
What is Vote Vancouver's plan for artist spaces? Vote Vancouver would support the Cultural Land Trust in buying vacant commercial spaces for rehearsal rooms, performance venues and artist workspaces across the city (Policy Priorities, page 34).
What is a temporary occupancy permit in Vote Vancouver's platform? It is a permit to use a building for a limited time. Vote Vancouver would expand these permits so vacant buildings can be turned into creative and cultural spaces more quickly (Policy Priorities, page 34).
Can Vancouver City Council turn vacant buildings into housing alone? Council controls permits and zoning, but Vote Vancouver's plan relies on community land trusts, which are independent groups, to own and run the housing (Policy Priorities, page 34).
ON THE BALLOT ## The Vote Vancouver candidates behind this ### Mayor [52**Rebecca Bligh**Ballot 52 · Vancouver city councillor](https://voche.me/candidates/rebecca-bligh) ### City Council [105**Geoff Teoli**Ballot 105](https://voche.me/candidates/geoff-teoli) [106**Keerit Jutla**Ballot 106](https://voche.me/candidates/keerit-jutla) [112**Steve Jedreicich**Ballot 112](https://voche.me/candidates/steve-jedreicich) [114**Rebecca Hasdell**Ballot 114](https://voche.me/candidates/rebecca-hasdell) [115**Bhavna Solecki**Ballot 115](https://voche.me/candidates/bhavna-solecki) [132**John Boychuk**Ballot 132](https://voche.me/candidates/john-boychuk) ## Sources Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it. 1. [Vote Vancouver Policy Priorities ](https://votevancouver.ca/s/VV-PolicyPriorities_260915.pdf#page=34)SAYS SO ITSELFVote Vancouver · pages 34 · checked September 22, 2026 ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.