Comments for West End Residents Association

Comment on WERA in the News by HOMELESSCHAMPIONS

HOMELESSCHAMPIONS — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:54:57 +0000

FEEDING THE HOMELESS @ XMAS IN PIGEON PARK 65 PEOPLE FEED 500 HUNGRY AND HURTIN

2010homelesschampions.ca and The Servant’s Of Hope would like to thank Am Johal for his help and support in this endeavour

The servant’s of hope 2010homelesschampions.ca fifty friends from surrey a family who just showed up a political activist two pastors a pooch all got together for the fourth year in a row and go into the downtown eastside of vancouver with love and compassion to serve hot food clothing and hope to the poor addicted and the homeless

video link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHcL709YoaY

Comment on Speakers list at public hearing finished, debate to follow by Michael H.

Michael H. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:59:36 +0000

This was not, in my opinion, an attempted filibuster – the speaker was not obstructionist. Members of the public could have left at any time to get their sleep, and Council could have chosen to adjourn the hearing to another evening. As long as speakers are introducing new information (which this speaker was) they are entitled to continue to request to speak. The Public Hearing is the only formal opportunity for residents to communicate with Council on issues that will forever change their neighbourhood – I don’t think it reasonable to limit such input for the purposes of convenience. Unless of course Council is wanting to send a message that input from the public has no bearing on their decision-making.

Comment on Sign up to speak at public hearing Tuesday Dec 1 City Hall by Terry Lavender

Terry Lavender — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:07:00 +0000

I have sent the following letter to the Mayor and Council:

I write to you to express my concern about the proposed towers at 1215 Bidwell Street and 1401 Comox Street.

My concern is not with these two developments per se. I believe that the West End should expect a certain amount of density because of our location and amenities. And yes, we do need more rental housing. As a tenant and the former chair of the Mole Hill Community Housing Society, I am well aware of the need for affordable rental accommodation in the West End. And I do not share the concern of some West End residents regarding the loss of “views” of the water and/or mountains. In the West End we all live close enough to the water that a five-minute walk to either English Bay or Coal Harbour is all we need to get one of the best views in the world.

My concern is that without a West End vision in place, other properties will be bought up by developers and other proposals put forward, with the siren call of “more affordable housing”. As you know there are many aging low-rise rental buildings that are probably nearing the end of their lifespan and therefore ripe for redevelopment in the West End. If these two redevelopments are allowed to go ahead, there will be pressure put on these other properties to be redeveloped and, without a community vision in place, before we know it, the ambiance that makes the West End a livable neighbourhood will be destroyed. Right now there is a good mix of towers, low rises and houses. But if more towers are built (and once you agree to one tower, what justification will you have for refusing others?) that delicate balance will be destroyed. We need to find smart solutions to increasing affordable housing without destroying existing neighbourhoods.

Please, I urge you to put a hold on these two proposals and to speed up the process of developing a community vision for the West End.

Comment on WERA in the News by homelesschampions

homelesschampions — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:36:12 +0000

FEEDING THE HOMELESS IN PIGEON PARK DECEMBER 21st BETWEEN 6:00 AND 8:00 IN THE EVENING

40 recovering addicts formerly from the Downtown Eastside are organized by 2010 Homeless Champions and the Servants of Hope Society and feed more than 400 homeless and drug addicted people an incredible Christmas Dinner. 2010 Homeless Champions regularly provides this type of outreach to individuals and are making a difference and in some cases through our example we are motivating some addicts to embrace the same principles that we have used to change our lives.

Here is link to a video we produced about last year’s outreach and to our website

http://www.2010homelesschampions.ca/indexold.htm

http://servantsofhope.2010homelesschampions.ca/

It is our pleasure to be able to give back at this time of year we thank you for your support

To respond to this you can contact me at servantsofhope@live.com or call Sean @ 604-254-5644

Comment on New website for 1401 Comox Rezoning by Ian Mcleod

Ian Mcleod — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:26:06 +0000

This building is too big for the area it is in . It should be only 9 stories and have some green space.They also need to set aside 1 or 2 stories for social housing. There are too many parking spots in that building,we need to encourage biking and walking not cars. The West End has too many cars already.

Comment on WERA in the News by HOMELESS CHAMPIONS

HOMELESS CHAMPIONS — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:44:31 +0000

VANCOUVER 2010 HOMELESSCHAMPION AN JOHAL A TRUE CHAMPION OF THE HOMELESS

A TRUE SAINT FOR THE HOMELESS IN BC
AN JOHAL has tirelessly fought for the rights of
homeless here in B.C. if ever there was a righteous
advocate for the homeless he’s the man. Earlier this
year he started a Hunger Strike for the homeless here
in Vancouver as a awareness campaign. He and a few friends
fasted for a week without food that’s right he gave of
himself, he went without. In the last year there have been
many rallies for the homeless here in our beautiful city
but nothing to me has had the impact that this cause represents.
There have been countless people lining up to support his fasting
chain and to me he deserves a medal. I attended a forum on
homeless policies and to tell you the truth if this is all the lost
souls in the dtes have for representation they had better pack
there long johns it’s going to be a long cold winter here is a video
describing his cause and a link to a website about some of the participants http://hungerstrike.2010homelesschampions.ca

Comment on Rezoning Applications: How do we vision the future of our community? by Michelle Mathias

Michelle Mathias — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:42:48 +0000

I don’t really believe the city’s eco-density plan is viable. The developers in this city are very clever at putting a green ribbon around their development proposals. We are soon to be the only city in the world where citizens reverse commute to the suburbs for work or to find any kind of service. How are these highrises ecological for the West End. Please ask yourself, why all the density is being done on the downtown penninsula and not in Shaunessy, Dunbar or West Point Grey.

Comment on Getting the word out by gary

gary — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:11:17 +0000

Reel in The Developer$

Comment on New website for 1401 Comox Rezoning by Philip

Philip — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:50:48 +0000

This is so wrong for the neighbourhood. Buildings of that size just have no soul or character and suck the life from the neighbourhood. Thats why I moved from Yaletown back to the West End. See you Sat.

Comment on Rezoning Applications: How do we vision the future of our community? by David Mccurrach

David Mccurrach — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:56:26 +0000

WE NEED A PLAN.Last year at a council meeting Tim Stevenson stood up and asked the N.P.A.What is the plan for the West End?There is no plan.Its help your friends out with choice spots to build large towers on.P.S.The applicant still has no date for open house on proposal sign on Maxines.Its Dec.1st.They dont want people showing up at council meeting.