Renderings vs. Reality – Part 1: The Granville Connector Debacle

🎭 Renderings vs. Reality – Part 1: The Granville Connector Debacle

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
📍Vancouver, BC

Remember those glossy concept images the City shared for the Granville Connector? Benches with sleek curves, vibrant greenery, public art—all signs of a modern, people-first space.

What did we actually get?

➡️ A bridge with unfinished concrete.
➡️ “Hilariously bad” benches—one of which sparked viral mockery online.
➡️ And now the city says, don’t worry, it’s temporary. Except—it also admits the final product won’t match the original design.

So what’s going on?

The $50–$54 million Granville Connector was supposed to be a proud legacy. But it’s starting to feel like another half-built dream—just like so many other overhyped city projects. We pay more and more through taxes, sky-high transit fares, and housing costs, while delivery keeps falling short.

The City says it’s due to budget constraints and engineering issues. But here’s the bigger truth:

If they never plan for problems, they’ll never deliver results.

This isn’t just about a bench. It’s about accountability, transparency, and the broken cycle of overpromise and underdeliver—in everything from infrastructure to housing to transit to FIFA 2026.

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🔍 What to Watch For in the Next Installments:

• Part 2 – FIFA 2026: Who’s Really Winning?
• Part 3 – Transit Fares Up, Service Down
• Part 4 – “Affordable” Housing or Developer Giveaways?
• Part 5 – How to Spot a Half-Built Dream (and What We Can Do)

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📣 Let’s start keeping receipts.
If you’ve seen city infrastructure that doesn’t match what was promised—or feels unfinished—take a photo, tell your story, and tag it:
#VanRealityCheck #RenderingsVsReality #PayingForPromises

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