The city-owned property at Fraser and Broadway is one of the most spectacular in the City’s portfolio. There’s a breathtaking view to the north, and the 99 B-line stops right in front of the building every couple of minutes. Excellent public transportation, a major intersection, and a large piece of land: Not a bad spot for a signature building.
The property has been designated for social housing for some time. The proposal, which came to public hearing at Council, was for an 11-storey building with eight floors (103 units) of social housing; three floors (24 units) of modest market housing; retail on Broadway and a new space for the Broadway Youth Resource Centre.
Neighbours were concerned with the height and the number of social
housing units. When it came to the vote, the Vision councillors cut off
the three rental floors, then added the qualifier: ‘If you can re-make
the building to add rental, go ahead, but only within the eight-storey
envelope.’
This was a false hope. BC Housing has no more money to redesign the
building and the housing provider, Vancouver Native Housing Society,
won’t be able to do it on their own.
Vancouver Sun
Friday Juy 23, 2010
Page A13, Issues & Ideas
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson caused offence and dismay recently when he called a group of citizens "F---ing NPA hacks." Citizens had been waiting for more than eight hours to make a respectful and well-thought-out presentation to council about an issue that would have significant consequences for their community.
In that moment, Robertson made a mockery of the public process upon which council depends and created an image of himself that will be difficult to dispel.
His excuse of "frustration" is weak. His followup excuse, "EcoDensity made me do it" is even weaker.
After more than 18 months in office, personal responsibility is probably the better approach. But what is this "public process" everyone talks about? It is a term repeated often at council. Members of every political organization claim to be the one true party most committed to hearing from the public. Vision Vancouver ran -- and was elected -- promising "public process" and "accountability." No wonder so many Vancouverites are feeling let down.
Miro Cernetig has written an adoring portrait of Gregor Robertson, the mayor with the handsome face and nimble feet. But Cernetig forgot to mention a few others who love that chiselled jaw. For example:
Chickens. They love the mayor. Their chicken brothers, sisters and cousins can all retire to Vancouver. And if they wear out their welcome in somebody's back yard, they can always move to the mayor's $20,000 shelter for homeless chickens. Plus, of course, he'll hire "people" to feed and care for them. And the "Freedoms of Chickens" manifesto (yep, this is no joke) ensures the cluckers won't actually have to do any work. They won't even have to lay eggs if they jolly well don't want to.
Councillor Geoff Meggs and Mayor Robertson are obviously so uncomfortable with the Olympic Village affordable housing decision they rammed through council at 1.00 am the other morning that they are resorting to that weakest of all arguments, “The NPA made me do it!”
Well boo hoo. You’ve been in charge for 18 months now Councillor—take some responsibility. Nothing has changed since long before you were elected. In fact the motion to build the very expensive housing was made unanimously in December 2007 by the previous council including many of the currently sitting Vision Vancouver councillors.
The council decision made last week was to divide the 252 “affordable” units at the Olympic Village between social housing (126 units) and market rental (126 units) for firefighters, police, health professionals and teachers.
The Olympics were an outstanding success - better than the most optimistic among us could have dreamed. The huge crowds were astonishing to everyone and the pleasure people took in the occasion made the Olympics truly belong to our city.
VANOC and the IOC run the games, but the celebration is up to the rest of us. The NPA council invested $20m over 4 years in the Legacy Fund, which paid for LiveCity, neighbourhood events, economic development, and social inclusion initiatives. Community, government and the private sector joined in to build pavilions, put on cultural events, create art, and fill stages across the city.
The Boston Globe
February 14th, 2010
Written by: Shira Springer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Protesters replaced partygoers insections of downtown and west Vancouver yesterday morning. More than 200 masked protesters targeted the Olympic Superstore located at the Hudson’s Bay Company. Windows displaying souvenir Olympic gear were smashed and splattered with red paint. Witnesses said the windows were shattered by protesters throwing metal newspaper boxes. Police confirmed protesters vandalized cars and stores in the area.
Geoff Meggs and Mayor Robertson are obviously so uncomfortable with the Olympic Village affordable housing decision they rammed through council at 1.00 am the other morning that they are resorting to that weakest of all arguments, “The NPA made me do it!”
