Kitsilano's small businesses, heritage houses, and greenspaces additional to the beach and parks are the things I really treasure here, and the reason I've lived 45 years in the neighbourhood. I've enjoyed walking and cycling the neighbourhood and the ability to do most activities without need of a car (but still able to drive/park to tote heavy grocieres, take a pet to the vet, etc.)
I love the tree lined streets, parks, walking to nearby shops and community. Seeing neighbours and their children (and dogs) enjoying their surroundings. We have an active Blockwatch (VPD) group which adds a sense of community on our street. My greatest fear is to live under the omnipresent shadow of a high rise tower in a location that sees so little sun and sky much of the year.
Cambie and 37th Ave. With all the condos and townhomes being built and residents moving in there needs ti be a market or grocery store within walking distance. You have to drive to safeway or save on now its not convenient to build with no shopping amenities. Plus developers are tearing down houses and trees to build 1.7 to 2.5 million dollar townhomes which nobody can afford. If you build it make it so the average working class can afford to live there.
There is a solution to DTE. Lytton needs a town built. Take the tenters with their tents on a bus to Lytton and teach them how to build a town. There is not enough workers so the DTE tent people could learn a trade.
West Point Grey has long been a quiet but vibrant single-family neighbourhood known for the elementary schools of Queen Mary and West Point Grey Academy; St. Helens, West 8th United and OLPH churches; the bustling shopping stretch of 10th Avenue at its centre; and Spanish Banks beaches down the hill. I grew up in this neighbourhood, walked to school, played kick-the-can in the streets, left the doors unlocked, knew everyone and spent glorious hours weekly on 10th Avenue, shopping at Safeway, Enda B Clothing, Starbucks, and Kaboodles; banking at one of the banks on each of the four corners of Sasamat; eating at the wide variety of restaurants, including the famous Varsity Grill, Enigma and Tim Hortons; and recreating at the Varsity Theatre and Trimble Park playground and fields. It's one of the best spots in the city to watch fireworks happening in the harbour and admiring the downtown city skyline. The Point Grey Annual Parade and Festival drew people from all over the city. Tragically, this neighbourhood has been decimated over the past 2 decades with the loss of almost all of what I've described above, largely due to obscene property taxes, emptying this area of its businesses, long-standing families, character and spirit. No effort was made by any Council to inject funding and assistance to preserve this gem of a close-knit village. Mass development/densification will be the nail in the coffin and will eradicate ALL remaining neighbourhood connections to my past and that of so many others. What has occurred in this community is a disgusting disgrace, revealing a total disregard for beauty, moral living and the value of history and heritage. West Point Grey should be a cautionary tale of how a neighbourhood can and will be destroyed when government selfishly focusses on pet projects at the expense of not caring for its people and their quality of life.
Marpole has typically been the most affordable on the West side, certainly in the 43 years that i have lived here. Because of this and the 3 main arterials that run through the Community it has been fondly looked on by developers for high rises. In 2008 we fought the Marpole Plan which would have eliminated ALL RS1 zoning! Thankfully we got City Hall to listen to reason and a compromise was achieved. Now it seems we are in 2008 all over again. City Hall must stop pandering to the development community and listen to the residents!
unfortunately i will be unable to make that presentation. Looking after an ailing aunt in California. I will look at the schedule and see if i can make another maybe Feb. 18. Thanks.
Elaine Bougie Gilligan
Kitsilano's small businesses, heritage houses, and greenspaces additional to the beach and parks are the things I really treasure here, and the reason I've lived 45 years in the neighbourhood. I've enjoyed walking and cycling the neighbourhood and the ability to do most activities without need of a car (but still able to drive/park to tote heavy grocieres, take a pet to the vet, etc.)
I love the tree lined streets, parks, walking to nearby shops and community. Seeing neighbours and their children (and dogs) enjoying their surroundings. We have an active Blockwatch (VPD) group which adds a sense of community on our street. My greatest fear is to live under the omnipresent shadow of a high rise tower in a location that sees so little sun and sky much of the year.
Cambie and 37th Ave. With all the condos and townhomes being built and residents moving in there needs ti be a market or grocery store within walking distance. You have to drive to safeway or save on now its not convenient to build with no shopping amenities. Plus developers are tearing down houses and trees to build 1.7 to 2.5 million dollar townhomes which nobody can afford. If you build it make it so the average working class can afford to live there.
There is a solution to DTE. Lytton needs a town built. Take the tenters with their tents on a bus to Lytton and teach them how to build a town. There is not enough workers so the DTE tent people could learn a trade.
West Point Grey has long been a quiet but vibrant single-family neighbourhood known for the elementary schools of Queen Mary and West Point Grey Academy; St. Helens, West 8th United and OLPH churches; the bustling shopping stretch of 10th Avenue at its centre; and Spanish Banks beaches down the hill. I grew up in this neighbourhood, walked to school, played kick-the-can in the streets, left the doors unlocked, knew everyone and spent glorious hours weekly on 10th Avenue, shopping at Safeway, Enda B Clothing, Starbucks, and Kaboodles; banking at one of the banks on each of the four corners of Sasamat; eating at the wide variety of restaurants, including the famous Varsity Grill, Enigma and Tim Hortons; and recreating at the Varsity Theatre and Trimble Park playground and fields. It's one of the best spots in the city to watch fireworks happening in the harbour and admiring the downtown city skyline. The Point Grey Annual Parade and Festival drew people from all over the city. Tragically, this neighbourhood has been decimated over the past 2 decades with the loss of almost all of what I've described above, largely due to obscene property taxes, emptying this area of its businesses, long-standing families, character and spirit. No effort was made by any Council to inject funding and assistance to preserve this gem of a close-knit village. Mass development/densification will be the nail in the coffin and will eradicate ALL remaining neighbourhood connections to my past and that of so many others. What has occurred in this community is a disgusting disgrace, revealing a total disregard for beauty, moral living and the value of history and heritage. West Point Grey should be a cautionary tale of how a neighbourhood can and will be destroyed when government selfishly focusses on pet projects at the expense of not caring for its people and their quality of life.
Marpole has typically been the most affordable on the West side, certainly in the 43 years that i have lived here. Because of this and the 3 main arterials that run through the Community it has been fondly looked on by developers for high rises. In 2008 we fought the Marpole Plan which would have eliminated ALL RS1 zoning! Thankfully we got City Hall to listen to reason and a compromise was achieved. Now it seems we are in 2008 all over again. City Hall must stop pandering to the development community and listen to the residents!
Mike Burdick
Brian,
unfortunately i will be unable to make that presentation. Looking after an ailing aunt in California. I will look at the schedule and see if i can make another maybe Feb. 18. Thanks.