PHIMBYs and the politics of transit-oriented development: Moving beyond the NIMBY-YIMBY binary in Vancouver’s Broadway Plan

As cities seek solutions to reduce GHG emissions, transit-oriented development (TOD) is increasingly recognized as a promising approach, given that transportation is a major emitter in urban areas. However, densification and TOD are subjects of intense debate and controversy. This research sheds light on urban residents’ perceptions of transit-oriented development, focusing on an initiative recently approved by the City of Vancouver, the Broadway Plan, as a case study. Through observation of public hearings and semi-structured interviews with residents, community groups, and experts, we identify three analytical positions structuring these debates: NIMBYs (Not-In-My-Backyard), YIMBYs (Yes-In-My-Backyard), and PHIMBYs (Public-Housing-In-My-Backyard). Rather than representing stable, homogeneous groups, these categories capture patterns in how differently positioned residents understand housing needs, displacement risks, and the role of market mechanisms in addressing affordability. Our analysis reveals that presumption about NIMBY versus YIMBY over-reifies class along property ownership lines while obscuring displacement vulnerability as a key axis shaping political positions. We demonstrate how this dualistic framework marginalizes residents who challenge housing commodification, with important implications for understanding TOD conflicts and designing inclusive planning processes in cities facing affordability crises.