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THE CHANGING CITY
Skyscraper stirs debate T
erry MacDonald and his wife Gloria have been living in the Brentwood area for more than 45 years – they’ve seen the area’s metamorphosis. But nothing has concerned them more than the potential problems that could arise with Brentwood mall’s redevelopment. MacDonald attended the Feb. 25 public hearing on the first of two major towers proposed for Brentwood mall. He told city For council about the already existmore info, ing problems of rat-runners, scan parking, and the traffic issues with ON MY BEAT where he lives on Brentlawn Layar Stefania Seccia Drive and how he suspects they’ll only get worse if council Larry Wright/burnaby now doesn’t do anything about it. “With all due respect to councillors, I think var- Towering changes: Above, Terry MacDonald has lived on Brentlawn Drive ious city committees have difficulty in effectively behind Brentwood Town Centre for more than 45 years and is worried what the dealing with some of these issues,” he said. “I just consequences will be for his neighbourhood when the proposed 53-storey tower don’t think they have all the tools they need to do (shown in artist’s rendering at right) becomes a reality. A second tower, also shown the work. I think we need to work directly with in the rendering, will be subject to a future public hearing, as well. city staff, not traffic and safety committees or a working group.” input through rezonings and public hearings. which she says has been ignored. Although many of the speakers at the public hearThe majority of speakers were in favour to the tower’s “Even in the Yaletown area, and False Creek, you ing favoured the massive redevelopment happening development at the hearing, as well. Many said it will walk along there and there’s art galleries, theatres, at Brentwood Town Centre, issues brought up by update the area, address housing concerns and some likchurches and synagogues and all this kind of stuff,” MacDonald and others regarded public safety and ameened it to a future Yaletown. she said. “There’s nothing like that in Brentwood mall nities. Burnaby resident Darlene Gering, former CEO and and all it’s got going for it is it’s easy to go out to the Shape Properties, the owner of Brentwood mall, president of the Burnaby Board of Trade, said the city SkyTrain. That’s not much of a community.” attended its fourth public hearing in the last year, this has to do something with its portion of the 40,000 newShe also said the city has not done enough to collect time for the proposed 53-storey tower atop a comers coming to the province every year. public input and effectively use it. three-storey commercial podium at the corner of “We have to make accommodations for the growing “I didn’t feel heard,” Ward said about her Halifax Street and Willingdon Avenue. population,” she said. “I know we need a variety of difpast experiences in speaking to council. You can comment Burnaby resident Helen Ward, who has been However, Lou Pelletier, director of planning ferent housing stock, and I believe rental stock is very on this story at active in raising her issues with the proposed much needed and that is a part of this particular develand building, said there had been at least four www.burnabynow.com changes at Brentwood mall, including the opment.” public hearings regarding different aspects of removal of its bus loop, also spoke at the hearGering noted that it’s been a long time since any purthe massive Brentwood mall redevelopment ing. pose-built rental units were built in the city, as well. over the last year. There were several other “I’m concerned about the infrastructure, gov“We’re very much in need of new affordable or difopen houses and opportunities to address the Brentwood ernment schools, parks, the legion, faith-based groups ferent options for family housing,” she said. “Singleplan since 1996. – there’s zero allotment for that,” Ward told the NOW. “I detached housing many of the people own is simply out “All plans start from a policy perspective,” he said. live in North Burnaby and what makes the community of reach for young families.” Pelletier noted that Brentwood was identified as an stronger is community things … that makes a communiBut when the area’s population spikes, where will area for a high-density, commercial residential develty livable and provides really good bang for your buck.” they go for entertainment, a picnic or a swim? opment. He said the overall concept was developed in Ward said the 1996 Brentwood community plan called 1996, but they can’t envision exactly what happens in the for human-scale development with a village concept, Towers Page 8 future, and that’s why each project goes back for public
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