Re: Residents press city to reject proposal, The Record, May 30.
I would like to correct the perception that residents have been appearing in delegations before city council for weeks. We have in fact been appearing before council since May of 2011 and have made seven appearances since March of this year. The proposed OCP change is a huge threat to our neighbourhood of single family homes - one of the last pockets of affordable family homes in the metro Vancouver area. We are not prepared to see our historic neighbourhood become another Brentwood or Metrotown, as developers buy up the houses, after the precedent is set for 273/275 Sherbrooke St.
Elizabeth Fry's executive director, Shawn Bayes, told the attendees at the recent McBride Sapperton Resident's Association, that she knows that concentrating too many social services in one area contributes to the "ghetto effect."
Yet she herself wants to forge ahead and do just that. It should be noted that none of the women who are currently receiving help, guidance or accommodation at the existing E Fry building will lose these supports or have to move out if the expansion is not done at this location.
The neighbourhood has not been railing against E Fry for the past 15 years - it has only come about as a result of E Fry's wish to set in motion a land-use change which could trigger a cascade of unwanted, uninvited re-development in a lively, thriving, family oriented neighbourhood - where people have chosen to live in a house.
While the city is cognizant of the need for non-market rental housing they also need to recognize that affordable, free standing market housing should also be preserved - not everyone requires social housing, and not everyone can afford to live in Queen's Park.
E Fry has been adamant that all programs will remain at their present location. E Fry should enlist the help of a capable real estate agent to find them a suitable, properly designated and/or zoned, area to house their administrative staff (13) and whatever other commercial ventures they wish to develop to underwrite their programs.
Catherine Cartwright, New Westminster
