August 6, 2010 - 9:59 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
CivicScene's first opinion piece for the Vancouver Sun appears in today's edition of the newspaper.
For weeks, the actions of the newly formed West End Neighbours group have given me concern about the state of the city and more specifically, the planning process.
I lamented the fact that a neighbourhood like the West End is so opposed to any kind of development, particularly when considering, as former City Councillor Gordon Price points out, that “only a dozen or so new buildings” have been erected since 1972 and which is “a hodge-podge: layers of different styles and forms accumulated over a century.”
I am seeing this kind of opposition to what residents are calling “intrusions” into the neighbourhoods a lot more these days. Whether it is Marpose showing concern over a high rise proposed for the Safeway parking lot at 70th and Granville, or those just off of Cambie that oppose the tower next to the new Marine Drive Canada Line station, this is becoming a growing trend.
What bothers me most about this is that City Council is being forced to traverse of minefield of NIMBY attitudes in most corners of the city – East, West, North and South. The greater good, or visions for the city as a whole, are becoming more and more difficult to implement.
So, I penned this piece for the Vancouver Sun. They have changed the title that I gave it, as well as cut some key points that I included in my original submission. So, for the benefit of CivicScene readers, I am reprinting my original submission so you can properly see my intent and focus.
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July 14, 2010 - 12:18 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Completely overshadowed by the Mayor’s unfortunate comments are the attitudes that are being expressed by the anti-STIR forces in the West End who from what I can tell simply adverse to change or any kind of development in their neighbourhood.
Former City Councillor Gordon Price is a voice of reason and experience within the realm of municipal politics within this city, and so I think that everyone should read his take on the STIR program being introduced into the West End here. Goodness knows that by no stretch of the imagination is Price on board with everything that Vision Vancouver has taken on, meaning that his perspective as a West End resident who sees the community from the inside is very valuable.
Here are the excerpts that I found most interesting:
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September 25, 2009 - 10:07 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
I just read this interesting account of City Council’s approval of the controversial 1450 McRae Ave. development on the northeast corner of Shaughnessy at Granville at 16th by Councillor Geoff Meggs.
The now-approved townhouses that have created a revolt in Shaughnessy.
For anyone who has driven down Granville Street in the past year, those little red signs in direct opposition to the project were hard to miss.
In his piece, Councillor Meggs speaks about the First Shaughnessy District plan (FSD). The FSD, adopted by council in 1982, entrenched an element of community control over local development, and was the “mother of all community plans.” according to Meggs.
What I don’t understand is this:
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