July 8, 2010

Mayor Robertson and City Councillors
City of Vancouver

Dear Mayor Robertson and Councillors:

Re: Motion B.4 – Mayor’s West End Community Advisory Committee

WERA is writing to express its support for the West End Advisory Committee. As you may already be aware, WERA has held a number of community forums on visioning and other matters related to housing, development, affordability and livability.

From our consultations with West End residents it has become apparent that there is a real concern with what many termed “Yaletown creep”. Most residents feel the diversity of and human scale of the built forms in the West End contribute significantly to the overall livability of the neighbourhood. An increase in high-rise developments would add to the “fortress” feeling often used to describe Yaletown.

Furthermore, many residents are concerned that the development of new high-rises would result in the loss of housing affordability. Rising rents in the neighbourhood pose a real threat to the population diversity which is identified as a strong community value. Many residents raised concerns that increased density may not include provisions for affordability.

We would appreciate receiving further information on how this committee will work and in what capacity it will advise the Mayor. We are pleased to see the members appointed will represent a diversity of interests and needs in the community.

We hope this new committee will serve to have a closer connection to the community and improve neighbourhood consultation with respect to future development proposals in the West End.

Sincerely,

Brent Granby,
President
WERA