Comox tower proposal won’t proceed to public hearing, says Mayor

A proposed STIR rental residential project on Comox Street that has generated concern in the West End will not go forward to public hearing at this time, says Mayor Gregor Robertson, so that the City can work with the neighbourhood to first identify key planning priorities, issues and community needs.

“We’ve heard from the West End community that people are concerned about new development in their neighbourhood,” said Mayor Robertson. “There’s no question we need more rental housing, both in the West End and throughout Vancouver. However, it’s clear that we also need more discussion about how rental housing goals and other critical needs can be met in the West End.

“I’m inviting community leaders to engage with my office in a special advisory process about the West End,” Robertson said, “and I’ve advised the developer it would not be appropriate to move the project forward at this time until further engagement with the community is completed. We want to hear from people about their current priorities.”

Robertson said that Westbank and Petersen Group, who own the site of a now-closed church, have agreed with this approach. Westbank and Petersen Group have a solid track record of accommodating community needs into new developments, including Woodward’s. Westbank President Ian Gillespie said that their organization understands the need to work with the City and the neighbourhood to better understand community priorities.

“We want to keep working with the neighbourhood and the City to develop a proposal that reflects the need for more rental housing and is sensitive to other priority needs in the West End,” said Gillespie.

Mayor Robertson stressed the importance of new rental housing being created in a way that engages the public.

“Our council is committed to getting new housing built,” said the Mayor. “We’ve shown that we’re not afraid to look at creative options, whether it’s the STIR program to get new rental built, laneway housing, secondary suites or modular housing. But we need to do it in a way that also builds trust and public confidence in the way the city consults with neighbourhoods.

“That’s why waiting for more neighbourhood consultation in the West End is the right thing to do. We need to strive for a win-win.”

The Mayor’s West End Advisory Committee, which will be made up of 12 individuals from the West End, is taking applications up until September 10, 2010. It will be charged with gathering an updated list of community priorities. For more information, please visit www.vancouver.ca/westend.

Media contact:

Kevin Quinlan
Executive Assistant
Office of the Mayor
City of Vancouver
Office: 604.873.7232
Cell: 778.995.2264
www.mayorofvancouver.ca/blog

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.

image by Shannon Kavanaugh from Community Studio.

Green Way Project ready to start this Saturday July 10 at 10 am.

Behind King George Secondary School and the West End Community Centre, a concrete pedestrian walkway runs between a sports field and tennis courts. The athletic spaces are used daily, and the walkway is well-trodden. Right now, the walkway is a corridor bordered by scrawny grass.

Volunteer for this grass roots community project to transform this tied missed used space into a beautiful community art project. Transform public space and yourself, make friends have fun.

Contact: Glen Andersen and Mosaic Planet
glenandersen@mac.com
604 710 7421

Message from the Artist of the Project Glen Andersen: continue reading…

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.

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

“Intentional Community: Shapes in Sharing” Workshop for the West End
11:00 am to 12:30 pm, Saturday, June 5, West End Community Centre

City dwellers have many skills and resources all around them, but may not have a mechanism for organizing and drawing on those skills in times of trouble. This class will look at the different shapes in sharing that take place so easily in rural communities and may need a boost in the city. We will talk about building trust and safeguarding our precious possessions while opening up to a wider community and its valuable support.

About Robin Wheeler
Robin Wheeler teaches traditional skills, sustenance gardening and medicinals at Edible Landscapes (www.ediblelandscapes.ca), a nursery and teaching garden in Roberts Creek, British Columbia.

Price and Registration
$15 per workshop. West End Community Centre: Register online (www.westendcc.ca), in person, or by calling (604-257-8333).

Contact: WestEndPrepare@shaw.ca

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.

Rezoning open house for 1754 Pendrell Street.

Today

Wednesday May 12, 4:00 pm – 7 pm
Best Western Sands Hotel,
1755 Davie Street

For more information on the proposed rezoning:rezoning centre website

City of Vancouver
Wednesday May 12, 2010
May 12, 2010
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Location: Empire Landmark Hotel, 1400 Robson St., Crystal Ballroom
Contact: Debra Bodner 604-829-4217
This session will provide interested members of the West End community with an opportunity to learn about and discuss key issues in the area, and provide comments to City staff regarding community needs