Mayor Robertson has created a Mayor’s West End Advisory Committee to help gather input on community priorities in the West End. Comprised of Mayor Robertson, Councillor Andrea Reimer, Councillor Tim Stevenson, and 12 residents of the West End, the Committee will consult and engage with the community to develop a list of community priorities, as well as provide advice on how the City can best engage and inform the West End on issues.

We want to have a committee that is representative of the unique demographics of the West End. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please visitonline application form to read more and apply online. The deadline for applications is September 10, 2010.

What makes the West End Great? report
What makes the West End Great? report with photos

On May 29, 2010 the West End Residents Association (WERA) hosted a community forum entitled “Planning for Change: What makes the West End Great”. The intent of the forum was to facilitate a respectful, informed public dialogue about the relationships between built forms and livability in the West End.

WERA hired a facilitator to generate a written report from this forum.

Vancouver’s challenge to become the “greenest city” is one that begs a response from the architectural, design, development and planning industry. It is clear that the built form will play an important aspect of how the City will achieve that goal.

WERA feels the West End is a model Vancouver neighbourhood. When our high density neighbourhood is combined with high quality living it can lead to an ecologically sustainable future, but there are still challenges to be met as evidenced by this forum. The presentations and discussions captured in the report illustrate the elements of high quality living in a dense neighbourhood.

By engaging residents in education and discussions about built form, WERA continues to involve ordinary citizens in shaping the future of their City. We offer this report to you for your consideration as you work towards creating an affordable, sustainable and livable City.

Brook + Associates Inc. has applied to the City to rezone this site from C-5 (Commercial) District to a CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District to permit conversion of the existing hotel rooms and hotel facilities to residential (rental), office and retail uses. The existing Denman Mall would remain unchanged.

314 Rental units would be created. The conversion would not occur until the current hotel operator ceases to operate at this location.

You are invited to an Open House to view the application and to meet City staff and the applicant team members who will be available to answer questions and receive comments. You can also provide comments by filling out our online feedback form.

Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Time: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Place: West End Community Centre, Denman Room, 870 Denman Street

CoV Rezoning

Dear Sir &/or Madam:
We have received a Development Application from Musson Cattell Mackey regarding the above-noted address. Please see the attached notification letter that was sent to neighbours recently for details regarding this project.

As well, please forward this email to anyone in your Association that would be interested in seeing this letter.

Please contact Joe Bosnjak, Project Coordinator, directly if you have any questions or comments. (joe.bosnjak@vancouver.ca or 604.873.7755)

City of Vancouver
Development Services
453 W 12th Ave
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4

WERA Director Christine Ackermann was quoted at the City of Vancouver’s recent “West End discussion on community needs and affordability” in Extra West. Articulating one of WERA’s concerns with the City’s STIR program, Ms. Ackermann was quoted as saying:

“The amount of supply we are getting out of the STIR program isn’t really going to make a huge drop in the bucket for affordability,”

Full Extra West Story

City of Vancouver, West End page with online survey

“Planning for Change – What Makes the West End Great?”
Presented by West End Residents Association (WERA)
1-3 pm at the Empire Landmark Hotel, 1400 Robson St.

The West End is a wonderful place to live. But what makes it so great? What can we, as residents, do to ensure a livable future for the neighbourhood in the midst of change?

This interactive forum will explore intersections and tensions between affordability, sustainability, and livability in the West End, with a focus on optimizing change and encouraging progressive, inclusive dialogue on the community’s future.

Join us!

This forum is the continuation of WERA’s campaign for community-based planning and a comprehensive community vision for the West End. It will include a planning workshop for residents and a presentation by Brent Toderian, Director of Planning City of Vancouver.

82-year old Lynn Stevens, a tenant in Emerald Terrace Apartments in the West End, is being threatened with eviction. The property owners, Hollyburn Properties, want to convert her suite into manager units. The building sports a vacancy sign out front.

This morning, Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver West End, held a press conference in support of Lynn and Andrew, the two tenants that are being evicted. Many seniors and other renters in the West End also came out in support of the Emerald Terrace tenants.

Currently being treated for ovarian cancer, Lynn is already experiencing a deterioration in health due to the stress of losing her home. “I have paid every rent increase. All of my friends are here. Why are they doing this to me?”

Andrew Simmons, the second tenant now threatened with eviction says, “This is the second unjust eviction notice they have issued to me in 18 months. This company will stop at nothing in order to vacate a suite, and jack up the rent.”

Global TV News

Vancouver Sun article

Photos of the press conference

on line feed back form
Rezoning Centre on CoV website