painful cuts approved at sd40
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river trail grows with each year
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new recycling a pain in the glass
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friday
May 2 2014
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Is it ‘wow’ or bow wow? Council delays decision on public art proposed for Pier Park Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
Grant GranGer/newsLeader
demolition crews clear debris at the site of the former gyro building on sixth street in downtown new west.
City approves Downtown rental tower Approves rezoning for 26-storey, 282-unit highrise on Gyro site Grant Granger
cHOicequotes
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
Concerns about traffic, blocked views and transient occupants didn’t dissuade council from giving a Downtown rental highrise the green light. The 26-storey tower will replace the former Gyro Building at Sixth Street, which used to house the Simon Fraser Health Unit. It will have 5,500 sq. ft. of commercial at
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street level and 282 rental units and property. She told council there townhouses. isn’t enough street parking as it Council approved South Street is. She’s also worried renters will Development tie up traffic on Group’s rezoning Carnarvon while application Tuesday. moving in and out. South Street bought diane butler “We feel this carnarvon is already in the property from is a very unsafe distress because of all the city in 2012 for situation because the traffic it gets. $2.8 million. Carnarvon is Several already in distress neighbours voiced their displeasure because of all the traffic it gets,” while many others supported it said Butler. “We feel [the 26-storey during a public hearing. height] is just overpowering and Diane Butler lives in a Carnarvon not in the best interests of the Street complex next door to the community. I do not feel this many Single Vision Lenses with Frames Bifocal Vision Lenses with Frames Progressive Vision Lenses with Frames
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renters is going to help us build the community we are seeking to restore in New West. Renters tend to be transient, here today and gone tomorrow They don’t have an interest in our community.” Her building has already been shook by the Gyro’s demolition and she fears it will get worse during construction. Several area residents echoed her sentiments. But many others supported the proposal saying the Downtown needs density to make it more vibrant. please see parkinG cOncerns, a4
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City council has pressed the pause button on a controversial piece of public art described as having ‘The Wow Factor.’ But to some councillors it may be a bad ‘wow.’ And if they decide to dump it they won’t get the two art pieces they do like. They’re all part of the Vancouver Biennale’s latest initiative for which the city has budgeted $90,000. Biennale officials told council Monday the three installations are a package deal. They also told council they have a track record that will prove them right in the end. The fuss is over the vision of Brazilian artist José Resende. His concept is four transport containers angled skyward on the Timber Wharf at Westminster Pier Park. Council likes Blue Trees by Konstantin Dimopolous, planned for Columbia Street, and a Public Furniture/ Urban Trees piece by Hugo Franco. please see pubLic art, a3