The Open House on Monday was a casual, but very informative affair. The City has a very good display that outlines the schematics of the stadium and the neighbourhood. It addresses many questions such as trafiic flow, pedestrian congestion, noise levels, and sightlines from street level. There was a good mix of supporters and opponents, but the format of the open house allowed everyone to air their opinions in a non-confrontational way. There's also a very detailed questionnaire to fill out, so everyone can leave their opinion.
I was very impressed with Kevin McNaney and the rest of the City staff. They are very approachable and willing to listen to all viewpoints in the process. If you happen to go to one of the meetings, seek him out. I also encourage you to talk to the consultants who are putting together the report as well...Gary McDonald & Sheri Winowski represent the consulting firm at the open houses, and are especially attentive when hearing the arguments in favour of the stadium.
That being said, two things are becoming clear:
A.) There are a lot of misconceptions & preconceived notions that Whitecaps Soccer games attract the same type of audience as the Canucks & Lions. Many of the people involved in opposing the stadium or writing the report have never attended a Whitecaps game, so they don't understand that the games attract a broad cross-section of people from all cultures, genders, ages, and social backgrounds. In other words, the Whitecaps attract a crowd that's more representative of Vancouver.
B.) The opponents of the stadium are making a deliberate effort to mislead people by focussing attention on the land just to the east of the site. Greg Kerfoot owns the land, and opponents are raising the spectre of another line of Yaletown-like condo developments along the Waterfront. They've even gone so far as to call it a "Mega-Project", suggesting that the current hearings is about the entire tract of land instead of the single stadium project. Other than the stadium, there hasn't been a single proposal or even speculation as to what will go up on the rest of the land. And when there is a proposal, it will go through the same type of public scrutiny the stadium is going through.
I highly encourage everyone to attend the remaining Open Houses. It's vitally important that our silent majority make our voices heard. The next Open Houses are being held on:
Tuesday, March 7, 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Storyeum Lobby, 142 Water Street
Wednesday, March 8, 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Harbour Centre Lobby (Hastings Entrance), 555 West Hastings Street
Saturday, March 11, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: VPL, Central Branch Promenade, 350 West Georgia Street
Once again, if you don't live in Vancouver, or can't make it to the meetings, you can send written comments to:
Kevin McNaney,
Planner, Central Area Planning, City of Vancouver
#406 - 515 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
kevin.mcnaney@vancouver.ca
Thanks again!
Bill Currie
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Whitecaps Stadium: A Call to Action For Soccer
Hockey may grab the headlines, but no other sport embraces the spirit of British Columbia the way soccer does. Across the province, soccer plays a huge role in the daily lives of men, women & children, and it remains the only sport that breaks through every national and cultural barrier known to humanity. The joy of soccer is the great equalizer for all of us, and we all have a responsibility to share and grow our game.
That's why if you're involved in soccer in any way, as a player, coach or fan of the game, you have a stake in ensuring the success of the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. And now is the time to participate.
Last October, the Vancouver Whitecaps proposed to build a spectacular new stadium on Vancouver's downtown waterfront. This shrine to the game will host both the Whitecaps' womens' and mens' teams, International soccer & rugby events, local soccer teams, multicultural festivals, concerts, and even the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. With direct access to Skytrain, the RAV line, West Coast Express, buses, seabus, seaplanes, and tens of thousands of parking spaces within a ten minute walk, it will be one of the most easily accessible stadiums in the world. The Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium is a tremendous gift to both the City of Vancouver and Canadian Soccer by the team's owner Greg Kerfoot, as it will be built on private land with private money.
But the stadium still needs to be approved by the municipal government before the project can start, and now is the time to let your voice be heard. The City of Vancouver is about to hold public meetings on the stadium and we need to let City Council know that there is broad public support for the project. The City of Vancouver is also accepting written submissions, so if you believe in the stadium project, but don't necessarily live in Vancouver, you can also participate. You can find the dates and locations for the meetings listed below. Every voice counts in this process!
This stadium is critical to the evolution of soccer in our city and country.
Take the United States, for example. Over the past decade, the United States has built a top flight professional league and modern stadiums devoted entirely to soccer. Their efforts have paid off with regular appearances in the World Cup, and a Quarter-Final finish in 2002. Their best players now have the choice to play professionally at home instead of abroad, and the U.S. have taken huge leaps towards their goal of being a serious contender for the World Cup in 2010. A new downtown stadium in Vancouver, along with an eventual jump to Major League Soccer could give Canadians the same opportunity.
The opportunities for Womens' soccer are tremendous as well. A new stadium would bolster Canada's future bid to host the Womens' World Cup, and provide greater exposure for the many national team members who play for the Whitecaps Women. The Whitecaps stadium would inspire new generations of female players for decades to come.
There are also benefits for Vancouver's large and diverse multicultural community. No sport unites the world the way soccer does. The Whitecaps Stadium will play host to the best international teams from around the world, and provide an attractive, inclusive venue to celebrate our rich cultural fabric.
So you see, we all have a stake in making this happen.
It's important to note that there are opponents of the stadium in Vancouver's downtown eastside. They include residents and activists who are generally opposed to private development in the area. Other opponents are property owners who are concerned with how the stadium will affect their views, traffic patterns and property values. Some intend to use the stadium proposal as a platform to air grievances on matters completely unrelated to the stadium, such as social housing, drug rehab centers and the lack of parks in the area. While these are views that should be listened to, respected and addressed, the opponents of the proposal should not be allowed to derail the benefits and positive economic impacts of the Whitecaps Stadium with issues that are not directly related to the Stadium project. That is why your support is so important.
Getting involved can be as simple as writing an e-mail to the mayor and city councilors, attending a community meeting, or by making a written submission to the Central Area Planning office of the City of Vancouver. For more information on what you can do to help make the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium a reality, visit www.friendsofsoccer.org.
Here are the list of Open Houses:
Monday, March 6, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
W Room at Woodwards,
101 West Hastings Street
Tuesday, March 7, 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Storyeum Lobby,
142 Water Street
Wednesday, March 8, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
Harbour Centre Lobby (Hastings Entrance),
555 West Hastings Street
Saturday, March 11, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Vancouver Public Library,
Central Branch - Promenade,
350 West Georgia Street
You can find details on the project and the time frame for the City Planning report at:
http://www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/whitecaps//review.htm
That's why if you're involved in soccer in any way, as a player, coach or fan of the game, you have a stake in ensuring the success of the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. And now is the time to participate.
Last October, the Vancouver Whitecaps proposed to build a spectacular new stadium on Vancouver's downtown waterfront. This shrine to the game will host both the Whitecaps' womens' and mens' teams, International soccer & rugby events, local soccer teams, multicultural festivals, concerts, and even the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. With direct access to Skytrain, the RAV line, West Coast Express, buses, seabus, seaplanes, and tens of thousands of parking spaces within a ten minute walk, it will be one of the most easily accessible stadiums in the world. The Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium is a tremendous gift to both the City of Vancouver and Canadian Soccer by the team's owner Greg Kerfoot, as it will be built on private land with private money.
But the stadium still needs to be approved by the municipal government before the project can start, and now is the time to let your voice be heard. The City of Vancouver is about to hold public meetings on the stadium and we need to let City Council know that there is broad public support for the project. The City of Vancouver is also accepting written submissions, so if you believe in the stadium project, but don't necessarily live in Vancouver, you can also participate. You can find the dates and locations for the meetings listed below. Every voice counts in this process!
This stadium is critical to the evolution of soccer in our city and country.
Take the United States, for example. Over the past decade, the United States has built a top flight professional league and modern stadiums devoted entirely to soccer. Their efforts have paid off with regular appearances in the World Cup, and a Quarter-Final finish in 2002. Their best players now have the choice to play professionally at home instead of abroad, and the U.S. have taken huge leaps towards their goal of being a serious contender for the World Cup in 2010. A new downtown stadium in Vancouver, along with an eventual jump to Major League Soccer could give Canadians the same opportunity.
The opportunities for Womens' soccer are tremendous as well. A new stadium would bolster Canada's future bid to host the Womens' World Cup, and provide greater exposure for the many national team members who play for the Whitecaps Women. The Whitecaps stadium would inspire new generations of female players for decades to come.
There are also benefits for Vancouver's large and diverse multicultural community. No sport unites the world the way soccer does. The Whitecaps Stadium will play host to the best international teams from around the world, and provide an attractive, inclusive venue to celebrate our rich cultural fabric.
So you see, we all have a stake in making this happen.
It's important to note that there are opponents of the stadium in Vancouver's downtown eastside. They include residents and activists who are generally opposed to private development in the area. Other opponents are property owners who are concerned with how the stadium will affect their views, traffic patterns and property values. Some intend to use the stadium proposal as a platform to air grievances on matters completely unrelated to the stadium, such as social housing, drug rehab centers and the lack of parks in the area. While these are views that should be listened to, respected and addressed, the opponents of the proposal should not be allowed to derail the benefits and positive economic impacts of the Whitecaps Stadium with issues that are not directly related to the Stadium project. That is why your support is so important.
Getting involved can be as simple as writing an e-mail to the mayor and city councilors, attending a community meeting, or by making a written submission to the Central Area Planning office of the City of Vancouver. For more information on what you can do to help make the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium a reality, visit www.friendsofsoccer.org.
Here are the list of Open Houses:
Monday, March 6, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
W Room at Woodwards,
101 West Hastings Street
Tuesday, March 7, 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Storyeum Lobby,
142 Water Street
Wednesday, March 8, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
Harbour Centre Lobby (Hastings Entrance),
555 West Hastings Street
Saturday, March 11, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Vancouver Public Library,
Central Branch - Promenade,
350 West Georgia Street
You can find details on the project and the time frame for the City Planning report at:
http://www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/whitecaps//review.htm
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Whitecaps Stadium Public Hearings Planned
Hello all,
Not much has been happening on the Whitecaps Stadium front since the local elections in November. On the whole, the election of NPA & Vision Vancouver candidates appears to have been positive news as there are now no clear opponents of the stadium project on council.
However, the public consultation process is about to get underway and we need voices to counter the local opposition to the stadium. The public meetings are called "Open Houses", and they're less confrontational and softer than formal public hearings. There's a list of dates and times below. The City of Vancouver is also accepting written submissions, so those of you who believe in the stadium project, but don't necessarily live in Vancouver can also participate.
In some of the discussions I've had with councillors and the people involved with City Planning, it's becoming apparent that there is a huge awareness gap when it comes to soccer and the need for Soccer Specific Stadiums in North America. The more people can talk about the growth of the game and the benefits of having the game in its own home, the better. The submission I'm working on also emphasizes the transit-friendly location of the stadium and the positive economic benefits to Gastown, Downtown and the Downtown Eastside.
If you'd like to make a written submission, you should address it to:
Kevin McNaney,Planner, Central Area Planning, City of Vancouver
#406 - 515 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
kevin.mcnaney@vancouver.ca
Here are the list of Open Houses:
Monday, March 6, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
W Room at Woodwards,
101 West Hastings Street
Tuesday, March 7, 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Storyeum Lobby,
142 Water Street
Wednesday, March 8,
2:00pm - 8:00pm
Harbour Centre Lobby (Hastings Entrance),
555 West Hastings Street
Saturday, March 11, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Vancouver Public Library,Central Branch - Promenade,
350 West Georgia Street
You can find details on the project and the time frame for the City Planning report at:http://www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/whitecaps//review.htm
Not much has been happening on the Whitecaps Stadium front since the local elections in November. On the whole, the election of NPA & Vision Vancouver candidates appears to have been positive news as there are now no clear opponents of the stadium project on council.
However, the public consultation process is about to get underway and we need voices to counter the local opposition to the stadium. The public meetings are called "Open Houses", and they're less confrontational and softer than formal public hearings. There's a list of dates and times below. The City of Vancouver is also accepting written submissions, so those of you who believe in the stadium project, but don't necessarily live in Vancouver can also participate.
In some of the discussions I've had with councillors and the people involved with City Planning, it's becoming apparent that there is a huge awareness gap when it comes to soccer and the need for Soccer Specific Stadiums in North America. The more people can talk about the growth of the game and the benefits of having the game in its own home, the better. The submission I'm working on also emphasizes the transit-friendly location of the stadium and the positive economic benefits to Gastown, Downtown and the Downtown Eastside.
If you'd like to make a written submission, you should address it to:
Kevin McNaney,Planner, Central Area Planning, City of Vancouver
#406 - 515 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
kevin.mcnaney@vancouver.ca
Here are the list of Open Houses:
Monday, March 6, 2:00pm - 8:00pm
W Room at Woodwards,
101 West Hastings Street
Tuesday, March 7, 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Storyeum Lobby,
142 Water Street
Wednesday, March 8,
2:00pm - 8:00pm
Harbour Centre Lobby (Hastings Entrance),
555 West Hastings Street
Saturday, March 11, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Vancouver Public Library,Central Branch - Promenade,
350 West Georgia Street
You can find details on the project and the time frame for the City Planning report at:http://www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/whitecaps//review.htm
Friday, October 21, 2005
Whitecaps Stadium Passes first hurdle
Hey all,
The Standing Committee on Planning and Environment held its first public council meeting on the Vancouver Stadium project this afternoon. They approved the City Manager's recommendation to undertake a $164,000 consultant's report (at the Whitecaps' expense)that will be researched and written over the next 6 months, which will include a thorough public consultation process. Residents of Vancouver's downtown eastside spoke against the project for the most part. Their main concerns are the impact on their neighbourhood, lack of parks, green space and community facilities in the area, and they complained about a lack of consultation prior to the Whitecaps announcement. There were a few exceptions...some business owners spoke out in favour of the project and the study, as well as a community youth group that trains aboriginal youth in the construction trades.
As you might imagine, business leaders and Tourism Vancouver spoke out in favour. A surprise however, was a presentation by the Gastown Business Improvement Association that was in favour of the consultant's study, but neither for or against the stadium. Their major concern seems to be the additional land along the waterfront that the Whitecaps own adjacent to the proposed stadium, and they want the study to include land use issues for those parcels as well. They're worried that additional developments next to the stadium will obscure views and take away from Gastown's mystique.
What we know is this:
- Counc. Peter Ladner is rock solid in support of the Stadium- Counc. Tim Louis is extremely hostile to the Stadium.
- Both mayoral candidates Jim Green and Sam Sullivan say they're in favour.
- All the current councillors want to see the study.
If you're interested, the City of Vancouver Web Site should post the video soon. You should be able to find it at:http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20051020/pe20051020.htm
I'm currently forming a pro-stadium citizens group. The website can be found at www.friendsofsoccer.org.
Cheers,
Bill Currie
The Standing Committee on Planning and Environment held its first public council meeting on the Vancouver Stadium project this afternoon. They approved the City Manager's recommendation to undertake a $164,000 consultant's report (at the Whitecaps' expense)that will be researched and written over the next 6 months, which will include a thorough public consultation process. Residents of Vancouver's downtown eastside spoke against the project for the most part. Their main concerns are the impact on their neighbourhood, lack of parks, green space and community facilities in the area, and they complained about a lack of consultation prior to the Whitecaps announcement. There were a few exceptions...some business owners spoke out in favour of the project and the study, as well as a community youth group that trains aboriginal youth in the construction trades.
As you might imagine, business leaders and Tourism Vancouver spoke out in favour. A surprise however, was a presentation by the Gastown Business Improvement Association that was in favour of the consultant's study, but neither for or against the stadium. Their major concern seems to be the additional land along the waterfront that the Whitecaps own adjacent to the proposed stadium, and they want the study to include land use issues for those parcels as well. They're worried that additional developments next to the stadium will obscure views and take away from Gastown's mystique.
What we know is this:
- Counc. Peter Ladner is rock solid in support of the Stadium- Counc. Tim Louis is extremely hostile to the Stadium.
- Both mayoral candidates Jim Green and Sam Sullivan say they're in favour.
- All the current councillors want to see the study.
If you're interested, the City of Vancouver Web Site should post the video soon. You should be able to find it at:http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20051020/pe20051020.htm
I'm currently forming a pro-stadium citizens group. The website can be found at www.friendsofsoccer.org.
Cheers,
Bill Currie
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