Complete network of barrier free sidewalks must be a priority

It has been a while since I have talked about the importance of sidewalks in creating complete neighborhoods (sidewalks) and how the current system of sidewalk-building wrongfully places the burden of building those sidewalks on existing property owners.  In a region where property values have unreasonably soared beyond the reach of new buyers, the property tax burden has accordingly increased for existing property owners, putting more tax dollars into government coffers.  That revenue coupled with increased revenues from the density bonus funds collected by the City of Burnaby should allow the city to spare some funds for improving our network of sidewalks for people with disabilities.  In 2018, we should not be allowing disabled people to struggle with getting around their neighborhoods like the poor fellow in the Bunaby Now article below.

BURNABY NOW

Scooter rider says Burnaby sidewalks are harrowing

A senior worries about safety along Smith Avenue in the Metrotown area

Maria Rantanen

 / Burnaby Now

OCTOBER 13, 2018 11:38 AM

Wayne McQueen navigates the bumps and broken sections of sidewalk along Smith Avenue in the Metrotown area in his motorized scooter

The 71-year-old manages to be mobile in his scooter despite having a condition called charcot foot, a result of his diabetes, which can cause the bones in his feet to break if he walks. But he doesn’t understand why a big city like Burnaby can’t get its sidewalks into shape for people like him in scooters or mothers pushing strollers.

“It’s very hard to manoeuvre with a mobility device,” McQueen said, adding that he’d like to see ramps on all corners along Smith Avenue. “It also would help young women with their strollers to have a ramp.”

At Smith and Sandell, the sidewalk, which is only on one side of the street, ends with no curb letdown, but a pathway going east with bark mulch allows McQueen to eventually cross the street. Father down at Hertford and Smith again there is no curb letdown and McQueen turns east and goes down half a block till he can access the road where there is a private driveway, then he rides along the street until he finds another driveway to get back onto the sidewalk.

In places, there are small, steep inclines on the sidewalk beside a driveway where he gathers speed in his scooter to make it up the hill, something that make him fearful for his safety.

“I could have tipped the thing over backward because it’s too steep,” he said of the sidewalk beside a driveway.

McQueen said he often feels very nervous riding his scooter in traffic as he goes down Smith Avenue to his doctor’s appointment with traffic.

“I think (city officials) need to take into consideration standards for making things mobility-safe – that doesn’t seem to be their priority, that’s just my opinion,” McQueen said, who has lived in Burnaby since 2008.

UNIQLO makes Sears look amateur

I had an opportunity to check out the recently opened UNIQLO in Metrotown.  Not only was the 2 level space efficiently used with a variety of styles, colours and options, it was organized like any decent retailer should be.  Meanwhile, the over-sized and overpriced waste of space called Sears can't get out of the business soon enough with competition like UNIQLO entering the market. Shape Properties should be working day and night to get UNIQLO into Brentwood.

Sugarfina Brentwood?

With Sugarfina looking for 10 new locations in Vancouver and Toronto including a location scheduled for Metrotown in November, it's conceivable that Shape Properties has been in touch with the company for a Brentwood location.

Western Investor article below

Sugarfina to open first Canadian freestanding store at Metrotown

The luxury candy retailer plans to open up to ten locations in the Canadian market

WI Staff Retail Insider

August 22, 2017

Luxury candy retailer Sugarfina has secured its first standalone store in Canada, taking the first steps in its multi-million dollar expansion plan. 

 

The Los Angeles-based company received $35 million in financing to fund expansion from private equity firm Great Hill Partners. Sugarfina will open at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby on November 1, Retail Insider has learned. It is the first in a widespread expansion that will see freestanding stores in Canada and internationally in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. 

 

Sugarfina currently operates across Canada in all five of the country’s Nordstrom outlets.  

 

The Metrotown space is 1,098 square feet on the mall’s ground floor. Tony Flanz of Think Retail represented Sugarfina in its deal with Metropolis and Metrotown owner Ivanhoe Cambridge. 

 

The brand is seeking 600 to 1000-square-foot retail spaces in major regional malls. Sugarfina has confirmed that it is looking to operate as many as ten locations in Vancouver and Toronto. 

 

Think Retail will be overseeing its expansion. Think represents several regional retail chains located in major Canadian cities, including handbag and apparel brand Fossil and Scandinavian lingerie brand Change.  

Copyright © 2017 Western Investor

View to Metrotown

This unobstructed view to Metrotown from the Sears rooftop will no longer exist by 2020.

Sight-lines are ever-changing

As I strolled through Willingdon Heights Park the other day, I noticed the Aviara tower rising beyond the community centre.  With that tower reaching full height and nearby projects along the Douglas / Gilmore / Halifax triangle nearing their approvals, I couldn't help but imagine how long it will be before one is no longer able to get a clear, straight view to Metrotown from anywhere north of Lougheed Hwy when walking in Willingdon Heights or Brentwood Park as the Lougheed corridor between Gilmore Ave and Holdom Ave sees more towers springing up.

Speaking of the Willingdon Community Centre, the facility definitely needs an upgrade and expansion to accommodate the thousands of new locals expected to call the area home over the next few years.

This needs to be done in addition to building a new community centre further east off of Beta Avenue and Dawson Street.  In order to create complete neighbourhoods, recreational spaces must be evenly distributed throughout the city to make them more accessible to walking and cycling.

Will cinema be part of Brentwood Mall Redevelopment?

Having gone to see World War Z last night at Silver City Metropolis with throngs of other Friday night movie goers, I've been wondering if the Entertainment Plaza slated for Phase 1 of the BMR will make space for a movie theatre.

I went to see Star Trek into Darkness at the Dolphin Theatre on Wednesday night for what might be the last time I see a movie there as the Dolphin is expected to close its doors in the near future.

With its pending closure, the question arises as to whether or not a new cinema at Brentwood would be feasible.  To make an 'entertainment district' truly an 'entertainment district', a cinema would seem to be an integral part of the plan (at least I would think so).  Perhaps the Open House on Phase 1 might shed some light on the possibility of a "Brentwood Cinemas".

The BMR Open House will take place at the Brentwood Mall food court on Wednesday June 26 from 4-7pm (this upcoming Wednesday).

Straight letter-writer dislikes density

There are always multiple views on issues.  The following letter was written to the Georgia Straight by a resident of Metrotown criticizing Burnaby's acceptance of high density developments in Metrotown.

news / letters

Burnaby resident raises hell about rising towers

MAR 14, 2013 at 2:50 AM

COUNCILLOR COLLEEN JORDAN and assistant director of current planning Ed Kozak seem to be wearing rose-coloured glasses when it comes to discussing town-centre development in Burnaby [“ Towers rise in Burnaby, all according to plan”, February 21-28]. Metrotown where I live is already overdeveloped and yet many more huge developments are ready to go. Jordan and Kozak justify the density of development at Metrotown with the fact that the SkyTrain runs through that part of Burnaby.

Have they tried to board SkyTrain at the Metrotown station at practically any time of the day or evening? SkyTrain comes from the already heavily developed city of Surrey and is usually full by the time it reaches Metrotown.

The ability and capacity of SkyTrain to carry more passengers, in my opinion, has reached its limit. People are already opting to drive their cars instead of taking SkyTrain, and the consequence is log-jammed automobile traffic on Kingsway to and through Metrotown. Putting more towers into this area is inviting even more congestion.

The quality of the street-level environment is another issue. One has only to look at Hazel Street and Patterson Avenue to see how earlier tower developments were superior. At street level, one sees gardens and trees, making for pleasant, spacious surroundings. The buildings themselves were fewer than 30 storeys. The newer developments are now reaching 40 or more, and at ground level, one sees ugly, square box-like townhouses.

Automobile traffic will increase dramatically, transit will be impossible, and the Bonsor Recreation Complex will be even more crowded. Infrastructure and services—police, fire, safety, sewage, water, and power—will need to be upgraded and enlarged, adding huge costs to the city.

Ecodensity is an idea that has been oversold. I would like to see Burnaby city council return to its policy of allowing development to proceed at a measured, closely monitored pace, as in the past.

> Gerald Weeks / Burnaby