Above: The opening panels of the two-part graphic novella

Scot Hein has partnered up with Jaldhi Gohil to create a two-part graphic novella (or in some minds, a manga series) to serve as a useful introduction to development regulation concepts that the City of Vancouver has relied upon for many years. CityHallWatch recommends "You Forgot About Me!" for all to read.

The workings of any city in terms of development planning and approvals and affordability can seem opaque to any observer. But Scot Hein uses his chosen medium this time to explain things in a straightforward manner, making full use of his lifetime of experience as a retired architect, former senior urban designer at the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, founding board member of the Urbanarium, and currently adjunct professor of Urban Design at UBC and lecturer at Simon Fraser University.

The novella is "intended to stimulate a conversation towards new approaches to address affordability—including the delivery of non-market housing better tied to income—by changing existing zoning."

Parts 1 and 2 are already published on the online Spacing magazine (which has six regional editions, including Vancouver). Link to Part 1: http://spacing.ca/vancouver/2021/09/20/graphic-novella-you-forgot-about-me-part-1/

And to put the icing on the cake, Scot is creating a five-part companion essay entitled "Zoning Must Evolve" to elaborate on the novella. It provides more coverage about Vancouver's planning history and specific recommendations on how to change existing zoning to better serve "those left behind." As of today, the Introduction and Part 1 are already online. Link to intro: http://spacing.ca/vancouver/2021/09/24/zoning-must-evolve-introduction/

The novella's illustrator is Jaldhi Gohil, trained in city and regional planning, and a recent graduate of UBC's Masters of Urban Design (MUD) Program. She is also a contributor to the Urbanarium Studio.