What’s inside: Sales • Lease • Management Your Richmond Specialist www.interlinkrealty.ca email: info@interlinkrealty.ca 604.271.3888 W E D N E S D AY , F E B R U A R Y 1 7 , 2 0 1 6
Public gets first peek of Minoru pool
The people of Richmond are getting the first glimpse of what their new pool inside the $80 million Minoru Recreation Complex might look like when it’s completed in June 2017. Artist’s renderings of the pool, seniors’ centre and building exterior were revealed during Mayor Malcolm Brodie’s annual address to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce on Friday. Within a few hours of being posted on the Richmond News’ Facebook page, the image of the pool sparked great interest among readers, with many people still aggrieved over the size of the pool being set at 25 metres-long. The rendering, however, only shows the secondary pools, not the intended 25-metre pool. When the plans were first announced, many residents expressed a desire for a larger, 50-metre pool. However, the extra cost for the bigger pool ($8 million) was considered prohibitive. The 110,000 square-foot complex will house improved aquatic spaces, more dedicated space for seniors, a fitness centre, multi-purpose rooms and change rooms for outdoor athletes.
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" The public responded to artist renderings of the new pool inside the $80 million Minoru Complex, which is expected to replace the existing, 56-year-old Minoru Aquatic Centre and Minoru Seniors Centre. The above photo, however, does not include the planned 25-metre pool.
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Tunnel, policing on Mayor’s Lunch menu Graeme Wood
Staff Reporter gwood@richmond-news.com
M
ayor Malcolm Brodie addressed controversial topics such as port activity, a proposed 10-lane bridge, mega homes and a police services review at a Richmond Chamber of Commerce hotel luncheon Friday afternoon, which doubled as the venue for his 2015 state-of-the-city speech. Conversely, Brodie chose not to address other controversial issues in the city, namely real estate speculation and vacant homes. As well, the city’s handling of Chinese-only signs was left behind at the podium — although council’s decision to regulate “sign clutter” with an upcoming bylaw was addressed in
his speech, on paper. Brodie said the City of Richmond’s relationship with Port Metro Vancouver is one of the biggest challenges his government faces. He cautioned, off script, that if the port remains unaccountable to the city, or even the province of B.C., Richmond farmland could soon be “wiped out.” Brodie took to the ballroom’s projector screen to point out the scope of the 230-acre Gilmore Farms, recently purchased by the port for “future study.” “If they can do this on one farm, why can’t they do this to an entire area. Why won’t east Richmond be wiped out and industrialized by the port?” Brodie also took issue with the port’s governing structure and transparency.
“Is it right that a (PMV) board, made up of 13 unelected, unaccountable representatives of industry, mostly, who meet in a private room, are able to come into a city and say, ‘We need your agricultural land?’ I don’t think anything works that way,” said Brodie, noting the board has refused to meet with him. Brodie defended his decision to support maintaining the existing George Massey Tunnel, while questioning the port’s involvement, behind closed doors, with the province. “I say this knowing the Chamber has taken the position in favour of the bridge. But our city council looks at it through a bit more of a global point of view and we have a lot of questions that need answered,” said Brodie. See Growth page 3
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