Vancouver has lost its way
The demise of livability in Vancouver is swiftly taking place under our noses and neither city hall nor the provincial government will step up to the plate to solve it.
The West End is truly under attack now that the developers have focused their efforts on various towers that will radically change the neighbourhood to resemble Coal Harbour or Yaletown. These mostly offshore developers could care less about the people who live here. The shocking price increase in sales of older residential buildings, up to 400 per cent in three years, is bound to set a precedent and the trickle-down effect that will push current residents out of the neighbourhood forever.
Now throw in the city's strangulation of services and thoroughfares and you have a toxic mix.
The closure of Robson Street will strangle transportation, as it has in the past. It is a major thoroughfare for transit. Why not restructure the other side of the gallery as a proper public square instead of the disgraceful mess of sawdust and ugly fountain that it is?
The closure of St. Paul’s takes away services required by the seniors and other residents, either forcing them out of the neighbourhood or endangering their health and safety, again changing the livability of the West End forever. This is compounded greatly by the removal of the viaduct, the other major thoroughfare in and out of the city, further inhibiting the West End's access to the hospital, as it's the most efficient path to the new location.
Both Nelson and Smythe streets are essential one-way thoroughfares that have enormous amounts of traffic and were very efficient. Now bike and turning lanes have narrowed them, creating a massive gridlock of traffic on both sides, even reaching over most of Cambie Bridge at times. The bike lane appears for only a few blocks and then disappears, so it’s pointless. What sense was there in placing bike lanes on the busiest traffic ways? It's only created MORE pollution from stalled cars and made driving feel more stressful and definitely more dangerous.
We need to ask ourselves whose future “Vision” this is being created for?
–Robert I.
All rants and raves are the opinion of the individual and do not reflect the opinions of Westender. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and brevity, so please keep it short and (bitter)sweet. Email your rant or rave to [email protected]
