December 3, 2009 - 12:31 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
A magnificent structure on the Vancouver landscape that has been badly neglected for many successive incarnations of the Park Board.
In observing the opposition to the Park Board’s decision to cut subsidies to the Stanley Park petting zoo and the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park, it seems as though the loss of the latter is a lot more painful for those interested parties.
And why not. The historic Bloedel Conservatory was constructed in 1969 as a result of Seattle-based lumber magnate and avid art collector Prentice Bloedel, who made a substantial contribution that transformed an abandoned basalt quarry into a magnificently sculpted public-use plaza with an intriguing, futuristic (at the time) centrepiece. The conservatory came together through a 1967 City of Vancouver Canadian Centennial project that evolved and took on a life of its own.
The plexiglass paneled geodesic dome is home to hundreds of varieties of tropical trees, shrubs and flowers as well as pathways, water features and animals, including over 100 species of birds who call the dome home.
But with a crack in the famed dome, this structure is not only in need of a new marketing plan as some have suggested.
On top of this dramatic structural damage, 80 plexiglass bubbles on the roof are also in desperate need of replacement.
A new roof for the heritage-protected building is expected to cost an astounding $1.5 to $2-million.
But if we look into the past, it is easy to understand how we have ended up with the conservatory’s current sorry state.
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November 26, 2009 - 4:20 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
The petting zoo is on its way out, and in consideration of what could have been cut, it makes complete sense.
As most readers are well aware, yesterday the Park Board decided by way of a 4-3 split vote to end subsidies to the Stanley Park petting zoo and the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park.
As I was told, there were 30 impassioned speakers last week when the vote was deferred, and a contingent of close to 50 for last night’s proceedings.
There is no doubt that these people were sincere in their efforts. For some, both are “iconic” institutions that will be greatly missed.
But in public office, when you are dealing with taxpayers money, and of course an obligation to balance the books year in and year out, tough decisions inevitably need to be made. And quite frankly, the fact that these two institutions are on the chopping block as opposed to other essential core services is a sound decision.
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October 9, 2009 - 4:56 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
I have been delinquent with my follow-up on this post regarding Park Board commissioner Ian Robertson’s unauthorized use of the Park Board logo on his webpage. Reader Brent Granby, however, decided to take up the cause, and just posted this comment:
“I spoke with Anita Ho at VPB and she stated that there is no policy on this matter, but only guidelines. I ask her if it was appropriate for a commissioner to have the logo on the their website and she said that it was not. Anita said she would ask Ian to take the logo off the his website. It will be interesting to see if he will compile with the request. I spoke with her on October 5.
Interesting to note as well, the VPB logo is not a register trade mark.
There is a real need for policy work here by the VPB. There needs to be clear policy on the appropriate uses of the logo.”
As of the time of this posting, Robertson hasn’t taken anything down.
