[news] Reduce, Remove or Re-locate Proposed UBC Towers

[Steve Kisby]

http://www.alternatives.com/prms/2004/wbps0407.pdf

REDUCE, REMOVE OR RE-LOCATE! APRIL 10 PROTEST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2004
WRECK BEACH PRESERVATION SOCIETY (WBPS)

The University of British Columbia has been given the green light to build four, 20-story, 187-1/2 foot student tower residences (UBC Marine Residences) for 1950 students just across from the cliff edge of Pacific Spirit Regional Park. The foreshore park is part of the Pacific Migratory Bird fly-way, but bird strikes are only one of many reasons Wreck Beach users and surrounding Vancouverites do NOT want these monoliths on this location (6600 block of Northwest Marine Drive)!

To protest the destruction of Vancouver's heritage viewscape from the Fraser River and from the sea, and to prevent dangerous vibrations to the cliff face from pile driving and increased truck movements which will jeopardize the wilderness-like ambience of Wreck Beach, beach users and neighbours of Pacific Spirit Regional Park are gathering in peaceful protest on Saturday, April 10, 11 a.m. on the site of the proposed Tower 6, the closest to the cliff edge, at 6600 block of Northwest Marine Drive between Agronomy Road and UBC Gate 6. We have hired the Eye in the Sky to raise his observation blimp to the height of the towers and people who do not wish this abomination against Nature to be built on this location and at this height, will be standing in the 80-foot by 80-foot "footprint" of the building. Other folks will be on the beach photographing the visibility of the blimp from different locations.

Two weekends ago, the WBPS raised and photographed balloons at the height of the high rise and those photos have been given to the Vice President of External Affairs for UBC. On the basis of those photos, we have hired Eye in the Sky to formalize that process. The view from the beach is as important to us as is our visibility from the top of the cliffs from the height of the high rises. A month ago, the UBC Board of Governors approved a cliff-erosion management plan that "supports the recreational values of the beach including privacy (not being able to view the beach from the cliff tops and vice versa)..." Yet, the towers would allow clear views from the buildings.

On February 19, twenty-seven witnesses heard the President of UBC Properties Trust say he was prepared to lower the height of Tower 6 if it was visible from the beach which we have now clearly established that it will be. The Marine Residences project manager told Judy Williams on April 6 that UBC always knew the buildings would be visible below the high water mark. That is unacceptable not only to us but to any Canadians who value the forested view of the Point Grey promontory. By insisting on this height at this location, UBC is undermining WBPS's last 30 years of efforts to keep Wreck Beach out of public view.

UBC's student housing coordinator last year told WBPS chair, Judy Williams when asked what environmental impact assessment had been done on adjacent parkland that it was "...not UBC's responsibility." We respectfully suggest that it is UBC's responsibility to be a good neighbour to GVRD parkland just as UBC has insisted over the years that GVRD be a good neighbour to UBC by impacting park cliffs and foreshore to protect UBC property. What is good for the goose, should also be good for the gander!

Additional Info:

Judy Williams, Chair, WBPS: (H) 604-856-9598 (Cellular) 604-308-6336
Messages may be left at both numbers. E-Mail: judyw at wreckbeach.org
Chris Rarinca, Vice-Chair, WBPS: (H) 604-420-4742