West End Residents Association

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

The new English Bay Bistro to replace the existing concession will be heard at the Development Permit Board today. All citizens of Vancouver are welcome to attend ask to speak to the proposal. The Hearing is at 3pm today on the 3rd floor of City Hall in Committee room 1.

WERA’s letter to DPB:
continue reading…

23 March 2009

Mayor Gregor Roberson and Council
City of Vancouver
Third Floor, City Hall
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5Y 1V4

Subject: City Parking Regulations for New Developments

Dear Mayor and Council,

The West End Residents’ Association (WERA) is frustrated at the delay in the review of city parking regulations for new developments, in particular as it relates to the West End. WERA believes the existing parking regulations are a significant contributor to the high cost of housing and encourages car ownership, therefore working directly against the city sustainability objectives. WERA would like the City to consider maximum parking requirements instead of minimum parking requirements and to give developers the option to provide no parking.

continue reading…

The Prime Minister of Canada
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Re: A comprehensive housing plan to house everyone in Canada

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

Vancouver is in the midst of a housing crisis. Absolute homelessness is at historically high levels. In the 2008 homelessness count 1547 persons were enumerated. The 2008 count result represents a 37% increase in homelessness from the 2005 count. No one can deny that homelessness is a significant problem. The connection between absolute homelessness and the issue of the affordable market rental housing is not so well known, but the problem of homelessness will not be solved if the lack of affordable housing is not addressed.

There is a “cascading affect” in housing where higher income households displace lower income households out of housing. As stocks of affordable market rental space are lost vacancy rates become lower and rental costs increase. The 2008 CHMC Market Rental Report stated that 1000 apartments were lost in Vancouver?. Vacancy rates dropped one tenth of a percentage point to 0.3%. This is the third year that the vacancy rates have been at this historical low point. The connection between absolute homelessness, living on the street with no shelter, and affordable middle-income market rate apartments is that as prices rise people are spending more of their income on housing resulting in more households becoming at risk of homelessness.

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< %image(20081026-r@r_rally.jpg|450|338|Sharon Isaak speaking with West Ender on Oct. 25, 2008)%>

Sharon Isaak

Renters at Risk campaign would like to extend utmost thanks to all
supporters of evictees and renters rights who came to the rally on Saturday.
Also, a big thank you to those who spent your free time helping us
ensure it was a success. It simply would not have been possible
without all of us working together, with incredible energy,
commitment and dedication to the issues. We surpassed our goals today
for the event. Well done everyone.

When we unite and fight, we will get renters rights!

for photos of the event

continue reading…

The West End Residents Association has sent the following letter to Mayor Sam Sullivan regarding the Four Pillars strategy:

Mayor Sam Sullivan
Chair, Four Pillars Coalition

Dear Mayor Sullivan:

Like many Vancouver residents, we consider the main challenges facing this city are poverty, affordable housing, and homelessness and associated problems, including drug dependence and crime. continue reading…

WERA member Mardel Greenough wrote the following letter to the Vancouver School Board on WERA's behalf:

Attention Trustee Shirley Wong & Chairperson Dr Ken Denike:

Over the past two years we have had representatives from our organization attend meetings at the Park Board regarding Nelson Park improvements. At these meetings as well as at the open houses held at both Nelson Park and the West End Community Centre, members of the community have expressed dislike of the parking lot in Nelson Park. The Nelson Park redevelopment draft that was finally arrived at in the fall of 2005 proposed that the school parking lot be moved to Comox street. Both the school board and city engineering did not approve of this movement of the school's parking for different reasons. In May of 2006 representatives of the community were invited to a meeting at the Park Board in order to look at a revised Nelson Park redevelopment plan that included the parking lot changes that we see now on the approved Nelson Park plan. The committee did object to the expanded parking lot but was told by the Park Board that this is what the school board wanted and the Park Board has no control over school board land. It was implied at the meeting that the redevelopment of the park would be in jeopardy if there was any further delay of the redevelopment of Nelson Park. Funds for the park have already been significantly reduced from what had been available 2 years ago when the redevelopment meetings first started taking place. With this in mind, the committee reluctantly agreed to the new plan.

The West End Residents Association hopes that the school board will reconsider the expansion of the parking lot in Nelson Park. Not only does the community not want more asphalt in the park but we don't see a need for the expansion as parking spots are often unused throughout the day.

We hope that the school board will take this into consideration before opting for the expanded parking lot and eliminating both trees and green space in a park that can afford to lose neither.

Sincerely yours:
Mardel Greenough
West End Residents Association

City of Vancouver
Dear Mayor and Council:

We are writing this letter in support of the Vancouver Food Policy Council. The work that this organization does is important to our communities, and moreover, should be further expanded.

WERA's direct involvement with the development of the Mole Hill Community Garden in the West End has shown us that many people do care where their food comes from. The waiting list to get a community plot is very long, indicating there are many others who share these concerns. We believe that land exists within the city to increase the availability of such gardens and that there is a need for a supervising agency to organize and co-ordinate a much expanded community garden program.

Food security is an issue that is important to all of us. Where our food comes from, how it is grown and our access to it, are all issues that are becoming increasingly important to the general public. We believe that there is keen public interest in reducing the amount of chemicals used in the growing and transport of our fresh produce as well as an interest in increasing the supply of locally grown food. A recent report stated that in the event of a catastrophic interruption to the highways system of the Lower Mainland (e.g., an earthquake), Vancouver, because of the “just-in-time” delivery practises used by the large multinational food suppliers, would have enough food on hand for only 3 days. Clearly an enhancement to our local food supply is desirable.

The Vancouver Food Policy Council is not only providing information to our communities regarding food issues but they are actively supporting work that ensures our access to safe, healthy food. As our city grows larger, a sustainable food system will only become increasingly important.

We fully support this organization and look forward to both its continued work and it having an expanded role in our community.

Best regards,

Brent Granby,
Director, West End Residents Association

Mardel Greenough,
West End Residents Mole Hill Community Garden Coordinator

Darrell Michaud,
for the West End Residents Association

The following letter to the editor appeared in the West Ender on March 30:

Council will Show its True Colours on Granville

The West End Residents Association (WERA) will be watching carefully the upcoming Council decision on Granville. Is the City serious about promoting its transportation priorities of walking, cycling and public transit? We believe it is these policies that make the downtown an attractive place to live and contribute to making Vancouver one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Downtown residents are more likely to walk, cycle or take public transit to conduct their activities. Downtown residents have the lowest car ownership rates and are the least likely to drive downtown. As such downtown residents have the most to gain by proceeding with the staff recommendation to enhance the existing transit mall.

Downtown residents would not likely benefit from or utilize the options being promoted by some downtown business interests to open up the mall to general traffic. Indeed downtown residents have the most to lose from this option, which will degrade their pedestrian and transit experience.

The ability to drive unimpeded and park for no cost is not what makes downtown Vancouver special or any great neighbourhood anywhere else in the world for that matter. You cannot have a vibrant urban experience and expect suburban style arterials with strip mall parking at the same time.

It is disappointing that the downtown business interests are so disconnected from the needs of residents on this issue. Some comments during the March 21 meeting were pure transit bashing. Indeed WERA believes the staff recommendation has been a significant compromise and options to extend the mall south to Davie are now being lost.

WERA fully supports Granville mall as a pedestrian and transit paradise. We are hoping Council makes the right decision on this one.

John Whistler
West End Residents Association

The following letter was sent to the editor of the Vancouver Sun on November 9, 2005:

Regarding the NPA promise to scrap lane reallocation for pedestrians and cyclists on Burrard Bridge.

It was with great frustration that our association, one of 33 citizen groups involved in over 10 years of public consultation on Burrard Bridge, read the recent position the NPA will be heading into the next election with regarding Burrard Bridge. While the NPA has mishandled the voters' demands for improved pedestrian and cycling facilities across this bridge for more than a decade, Mr. Sullivan feels he is now entitled to score political points against the majority of politicians, including one of his own party members, who had the guts to actually take some action on this issue. Voters should be taking a long hard look at Mr. Sullivan’s stand on this issue. His proposal to widen the bridge is not only opposed by the heritage community, as reported in your paper, but is also opposed by the majority of groups that have put countless hours of volunteer work into ensuring this project is a success and provides adequate space for car drivers, buses, pedestrians and cyclists. What is not mentioned in this article is that Mr. Sullivan’s proposal will put Vancouver taxpayers on the hook for an estimated 15 million dollars, that the plan involves significant land appropriation from the Squamish native band on the south side of the bridge and is generally an unworkable solution. Downtown and Kitsilano residents are tired of waiting for pedestrian and cycling facilities that have been promised by four successive councils. It's time to let the bickering end and get on with making these much needed changes.

Sincerely yours

Rob Wynen
President, West End Residents Association