Some Quayside residents are fearful their beautiful views of the Fraser River could be obliterated by the proposed Q2Q pedestrian bridge.
Brian Gibson is among the residents who are concerned that a tower with an elevator at its core and a spiral staircase wrapping around that structure could be erected in front of his waterfront home as part of the Q2Q crossing.
“It’s quite unjust,” he said.
Gibson estimates the tower would be about 50 feet away from his window, but it’s even closer for one of his neighbours.
“Certain individuals are dumbfounded that it could even be considered,” he told the Record. “My immediate neighbour, … he (potentially) has folks looking into his window that are coming down the stairwell around this tower.”
A number of Lido residents attended the Quayside Community Board’s recent annual general meeting to make their concerns known to city officials attending the meeting.
“It’s just wrong,” Gibson said.
Along with privacy concerns, Quayside residents fear the tower structure will significantly depreciate their property values.
Back in 2007, the city negotiated a four-party agreement as part of the city’s decision to allow a destination casino in New West. One of the items to be funded was a pedestrian crossing from the Quay to Queensborough.
A number of proposals have floated around city hall since that time, with the latest drawings being taken out to the community for consultation in December.
“The view that will be impeded by about four of the units closest to this proposed bridge would be significant,” Gibson said. “We are on the fourth floor. My neighbour on the ground floor, any westward view down the river, which is quite pleasant, will be totally obstructed. Thus the concern of the property value impact.”
The City of New Westminster has about $6.3 million in casino funding available for the Q2Q pedestrian and bicycle crossing, with the money needing to be spent by the end of 2017.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said there is going to be “some healthy discussions” as the city moves forward and see where the plan goes.
“I am disappointed that the marine carriers came out with the new stipulation of the height, really throwing this thing in a different direction,” he said about the latest concept. “We are at least going forward with the preliminary stuff and having a look at some of the drawings to see what those cost.”
Until he has more details about cost, Puchmayr said he can’t say whether the project is something he’d be able to support.
“It is certainly out of the realm of the $6 million. I would be encouraged if it was twice that. We always knew that $6 million wouldn’t do it. That is what was allocated for it. I am going to wait and see and have a look. It is going to be something we are going to have a really serious and close look at,” he said. “The playing field has changed drastically. The views and the sightlines are going to be an issue down at the Quay.”
Puchmayr said people have paid a “premium price” for their views and have legitimate concerns if a structure is to be built in front of their homes. He is also concerned that the latest plan doesn’t allow ambulances to use the crossing in the event of an emergency.
Gibson said he isn’t opposed to a pedestrian crossing linking Queensborough and the Quay, but he thinks a better solution must be found and residents need to be more thoroughly consulted.
“We are quite united in the Lido that this is a serious encroachment on so many of our rights,” he said. “It is simply wrong. We clearly need to mobilize and gather our motley crew together and try to launch a convincing argument against this location. Have we exhausted all the potential locations?”
