Airy fairy jargon is how one departing man described the information presented at an open house about the redevelopment of the Stongs site, Nov. 14.
Ken Reynolds, another resident of Dunbar, attended expecting to learn about the number of storeys and units being proposed for the site. If they really listen to the people, the input, and act on it then that would be great, he said.
Throngs of Dunbar residents flocked to the open house hosted by landowner Harwood Group about a potential rezoning for three properties on Dunbar Street between West 29th and 30th avenues that include Stongs, McDermotts Body Shop and two parking lots.
Gregory Henriquez, managing partner of Henriquez Partners Architects, immediately differentiated this project from the six to seven-storey seniors facility thats being proposed by Pacific Arbour Retirement Communities nearby.
We dont have a final design yet, Henriquez said.
Theres been a lot of hurt feelings, I think, in the neighbourhood because of The Ridge and Pacific Arbour and the way they came to the community with a final design, rather than a process, he said. What were proposing is a process rather than a product.
Brook Pooni Associates surveyed attendees on the importance of retaining Stongs, what type of retail and professional uses and community amenities such as a daycare, library, community centre, playground or open space the area needs.
The east parking lot transitions from commercial to residential properties, so residents were asked whether they preferred a redevelopment that included townhouses or two houses on this lot.
Attendees were also asked whether they preferred housing for seniors, families, first-time homebuyers or renters.
Stongs has run in Vancouver since 1931 and on Dunbar Street for 55 years. The grocery stores lease expires in August 2015.
Henriquez said Stongs would need to find a temporary location if redevelopment were to proceed.
Cori Bonina, president of the family-owned grocery store, said shes looking for a temporary location in Dunbar with the desire to return to its current site.
We have been in discussions with the Harwood Group to commit to continue in business together, she said. Like Stongs, they are a family-run business with strong family and community ties and commitments in Dunbar.
Henriquez expects his firm will develop designs based on the input received at the open house, bring these alternatives back to the community early in early 2013 and then submit a rezoning application to the city.
Members of the new Dunbar Re-Vision group that sprang up to oppose the Pacific Arbour proposal say theyre less concerned about the Stongs development.
Stongs has got a lot of goodwill in this neighbourhood. Now, they are not the owners of this process but theres a transference, said Mike Andruff. And if the developer does what he does and does it tastefully and is inviting input and people give it, I dont think we have any quarrel with that.
The group wants Vancouverites who are frustrated with what they see as a lack of consultation and respect for neighbourhoods on the part of the city and an unjustified focus on increasing density to join them in a rally at city hall Nov. 16 at 12:30 p.m.
Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
