Residents are out today enjoying the weather for the Gathering Festival. This park serves as a hub for the New Yaletown community, and makes it livable. We call upon residents to check out the event, sign our petition asking the City of Vancouver to put the community ahead of developers and donate to our cause as we challenge them this summer to do the right thing.
An interesting article was published by CityHallWatch about who’s winning when the our City Council approves these massive developments on public land (i.e. the City of Vancouver). The proposed 52-storey “Vancouver House” luxury residential tower is being largely marketed at wealthy overseas buyers while local residents are finding the city to be unaffordable. We need a City Council that works in the interest of local residents – more affordable housing, more green space and a more livable city. Please sign our petition to save Emery Barnes Park from another massive development that adds no value for local residents. Let’s take a stand on this issue and the other issues being fought in other Vancouver neighbourhoods.
http://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/westbank-ian-gillespie-targets-wealthy/
CityHallWatch is now tracking TWELVE community-based legal actions involving the City of Vancouver and members of Council. We need to ensure that our elected members are working for us, and we must do so by taking a stand and using our voices as a collective to make sure that they act in the best interest of our community. Please sign the petition and let your voice be heard.
Follow the list here.
Another neighbourhood has launched a lawsuit against City Councillors for passing a redevelopment project when there was a conflict of interest. 11 members of the Vancouver General Hospital Neighbourhood Association have launched a lawsuit against Councillors Geoff Meggs and Kerry Jang alleging that the councillors should not have voted on the redevelopment of Heather Place as they sit on the corporation applying for the rezoning.
Neighbourhoods, like New Yaletown, are not happy with the City of Vancouver and their actions. As citizens, we need our elected members to listen to the community and make decisions in the interest of the residents, not their own.
Check out the full story here!
CANY is a member and proud supporter of the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods. We are trying to save Emery Barnes Park, but other neighbourhoods are facing similar issues. We need the City of Vancouver to work more with the communities to ensure a livable city for generations to come.
June 12, 2014: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Angered for years by Vancouver’s divisive community engagement practices, communities from across the city have united as the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods to demand more from elected officials. The Coalition today published its Principles and Goals for Collaborative Neighbourhood-Based Planning in the City of Vancouver.
The Coalition will be calling on all candidates in the city’s upcoming November election to declare publicly their support of these shared principles. The Coalition, which maintains no party affiliation, will then actively publicize which candidates and parties support the Principles and Goals and which candidates and parties reject a collaborative relationship with neighbourhoods.
The Principles and Goals document calls for re-establishing a partnership between the City and its neighbourhoods, and recognizing neighbourhoods as the fundamental building block for future land use and development. The document asks elected officials to:
The Coalition now represents a majority of Vancouver neighbourhoods, and continues to attract and welcome new member associations. It has grown to include 24 diverse community associations from all across the city, from the West End, Downtown East Side and Point Grey, to Mount Pleasant, Strathcona and Shaughnessy Heights, all in strong support of a collaborative relationship with their civic government.
“The Coalition has clearly articulated what we expect of our government,” says Grandview-Woodland resident, Jak King, one of the founders of the Coalition. We’re seeking a Collaborative Partnership that is transparent and accountable; Development that builds community, not just bricks and mortar; and a Livable sustainable city that acknowledges neighbourhoods as the fundamental building block for future development.”
In supporting the work of the Coalition, Dunbar Residents Association representative Jonathan Weisman said: “We’ve demonstrated that a collaborative neighbourhood-centred planning process can be very successful. In Dunbar, our community vision continues to enjoy broad and strong support, and contributes to the neighbourhood’s sense of pride and engagement.”
“The absence of neighbourhood-based planning only leads to conflict and opposition to development,” said Fern Jeffries, co-chair of the False Creek Residents Association and a founding leader of the Coalition. “Our statement of Principles and Goals is timely as our neighbourhood continues fighting for a park that has been a legal commitment since 1990. Current plans involved absolutely no meaningful consultation with the neighbourhood, and that has to change.”
The full document detailing Principles and Goals and a complete listing of participating organizations can be found at our web site: coalitionvan.org. Also available is a one-page summary of the document.
http://coalitionvan.org/files/CVN-Release-June12_2014.pdf
For further information contact: coalitionvan@shaw.ca