Selling Vancouver by the pound
Re: “Expo’s troubled legacy,” April 28, 2016.
In 1989, a 33x100 foot lot in East Van was about $200,000. Eighty-three hectares would equal some 2,280 plots. Add $50,000 each for being prime downtown water locations. So that puts the value of Expo lands at between $450-$570 million. At $321 million, Bill Vander Zalm's sale of this terrific taxpayer asset constitutes a wholesale giveaway, particularly when the 15-year payout and the environmental remediation at our expense are factored in.
Were BC a banana republic back then instead of a mere laughing-stock to the business world, Mr. VZ would have been removed from office by coupd'état for such gross misfeasance. Glen Clark's fast ferry fiasco was mere chump change by comparison.
–Wm. Baird Blackstone
Roadway ruckus
Re: “Squares and Circles,” Rant/Rave, May 5, 2016.
One more time we will suffer the inconvenience of having Robson blocked and this time, apparently for good. I am totally against it as it creates a hardship for bus access to Denman. There is no need to close that block to traffic. There is plenty of space on each side of the street, for chats and lunches and friends.
The Olympics are over! Let's move on!
Plus, it may have been Arthur Erickson's view at the time to close the road, but time and things change and that road needs to stay open to maintain the flow of people and traffic and buses. Enough already with these unnecessary closures!
–DL Dalbec
What is City Hall smoking?
Thanks to whichever asshole at City Hall who decided to move the 4/20 rally to Sunset Beach. It took us over an hour to get down Pacific/Beach Avenue. Next year hold it on the Golden Mile on Point Grey Road and see how they like it.
The city needs to get a grip on how congested the West End is already – and they haven't even started to ruin the end of Davie Street with all the new condo developments on the horizon.
Moonbeam and his clones need to go far, far away to a land very distant from what's left of Vancouver.
–One of many very pissed off locals
