Heatley Block, Library, strathcona
In Uncategorized on February 4, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Up with libraries! Down with heritage destruction. Kudos to the VPL for listening to the community on this one.
Vancouver Public Library Press Release: New Location for Downtown Eastside-Strathcona Branch
(Vancouver, British Columbia) – The City of Vancouver has purchased a new site for the future Downtown Eastside-Strathcona Library Branch, bringing one step closer the Library Board’s long-time vision for a full service library in the historic city centre to complement the Carnegie Reading Room.
The Downtown Eastside-Strathcona Branch, which will also provide library service to Chinatown, will be located at 720-730 East Hastings Street on the south side between Heatley Avenue and Hawks Avenue.
“This is truly a dream come true,” said Vancouver Public Library Board Chair Joan Andersen. “Providing full library service to these diverse neighbourhoods, some of which face significant economic and social challenges, has been a longstanding goal of the Vancouver Public Library Board of Trustees. We are delighted to announce that we are closer to making the branch a reality.”
The Library Board will request capital funding from the City for the design process, which is expected to begin this year. In the short term the Library will explore partnership opportunities for the development. The Board has contracted McClanaghan and Associates to consult with neighbourhoods to refine the vision for the library branch. This community input will help inform the library’s development plan.
cycling, Transportation, Viaduct
In Transportation on February 2, 2010 at 4:43 am
Plan would not affect traffic
JEFF HODSON
METRO VANCOUVER
Following in the track of its successful bike-lane trial on the Burrard Street Bridge, the city is now considering a dedicated bicycle lane on the Dunsmuir Viaduct.
The two-way bike lane, which would be separated from traffic by concrete barriers, would create a strong East-West connection between the downtown and the heavily used Adanac Street bikeway to East Vancouver, said Vision Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs.
The beauty of the plan, he added, is that it doesn’t negatively impact motorists.
One of the viaduct’s three traffic lanes was cordoned off several years ago to facilitate the construction of the Spectrum/Costco development near GM Place.
The staff recommendation, which comes before council Thursday, would see existing concrete barriers shifted to the viaduct’s northernmost lane from the southernmost lane —maintaining two traffic lanes into downtown. The cost of the project is $300,000.
The proposed configuration would result in a separated, four-metre-wide, bike-only lane as well as two narrow traffic lanes heading into downtown. The existing sidewalk would be unchanged.
The staff report is also looking at something that could have a large impact on traffic — how to implement separated bike lanes in the downtown peninsula.
Meggs warned that there are no easy answers downtown as separated bicycle lanes would have to come at the expense of parking spots or traffic lanes.
hastings-sunrise, photos, urban beekeeping
In Gardens, History, Photographs on January 29, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Two shots of a three-block series on the corner of Hastings and Kamloops which document the not-so-distant past of a neighbourhood that creeks flowed through and where people kept bees as part of their backyard agriculture. Continued work around the Hastings Park Conservancy and guidelines adopted to re-allow urban beekeeping in Vancouver in 2005 are part of bringing back to life the natural features that helped make Hastings-Sunrise such a liveable part of the city. Although the Hastings corridor itself is a tad shabby in spots, the surrounding neighbourhood is full of beautiful and productive gardens, fruit trees, and the occasional coop of illegal chickens.
