M.Urb student calls for inclusion of Hogan's Alley history in post-viaduct planning

If Vancouver's city council votes next week to proceed with the removal of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts, urban studies master’s student Stephanie Allen is calling for the city to also establish a collaborative planning process to ensure that the history of the black community that was cleared to build those viaducts is somehow acknowledged.

Allen studied the history of that community, located in what was then known as Hogan's Alley, for a research paper in a course on urban inequality. Prompted by recent public discussions on the fate of the viaducts, Allen has since connected with other members and activists in Vancouver's black community about how the existence of Hogan’s Alley, and the city’s decision to use its eminent domain powers to clear the area, could be acknowledged and included in post-viaduct development plans. Allen would like to see the city work with former Hogan’s Alley residents and their descendants, as well as artist and immigrant organizations, to achieve that.

Allen's comments were made during an interview with Co-op Radio's Media Mornings program. She will be addressing council when it considers options for the viaducts at its Oct. 21 meeting.