I attended the Quayside AGM meeting on Jan. 27, 2016. New Westminster Engineering gave a presentation on the proposed pedestrian bridge crossing of the Fraser River (Q2Q). While I have generally appreciated the competent work of the New Westminster planning department, this current proposal has shaken my confidence. The tenor of the presentation seemed to suggest it was a done deal with no alternative.
Whether the bridge termination is located very close to the Lido or moved a bit closer to the train crossing putting it directly in front of the Excelsior is, unfortunately, irrelevant. The addition of the proposed elevator structure is far, far too visually intrusive. At night, the lighting on the elevator tower will add even more visual pollution. The drawings presented by engineering show a massive 15 to 20 metre elevator tower surrounded by 3m walkways. The drawings included people. The people were dwarfed by the massiveness of the tower structure. This reinforces the perception that we are contemplating building a structure that will be an eye sore for everyone in perpetuity. Even if most of the structure is built out of glass, the walkways, the cables and support beams certainly will not be. Whether one sees the need or not for a pedestrian bridge, the current proposal has morphed into a Godzilla monster rising out of the Fraser.
While recently walking in Pier Park and seeing the existing elevator I was starkly reminded of the enormity of such a structure. The original plan proposed, had termination on the other side of the train bridge where there is more room, was seen by many as acceptable with its gradually sloping walkway. The report to New West council of Feb. 2, 2015 by Jim Lowrie, director of engineering services, said that the idea of a bridge high enough to allow river traffic underneath was not feasible for cost reasons and it would be “physically and visually intrusive on the surrounding neighborhoods.” So a low level bridge was proposed.
Now suddenly we have the proposal of a gargantuan elevator tower.
This reminds me of the often sited sales tactic, bait and switch. I realize the original location was nixed by marine stakeholders. That they were not consulted earlier was a major oversight. The current proposed location with the monstrous elevator tower is equally nixed by the resident stakeholders as being, to use Lowrie's words, physically and visually intrusive. Lowrie no doubt sees the irony in the current proposed massive elevator tower being shoe-horned into the current proposed location within throwing distance of the walkway and residents’ living rooms.
While I am not directly affected by the proposed location, this part of a walk along the Quay will definitely suffer a severe blow. And if anyone takes affront to the notion that one should not be so reactive to a 15m-plus elevator tower along with an accompanying wrap around stairs being put virtually in their front yard, one should try to imagine such a structure being put in your front yard. It is doubtful such an imaginary journey would be a pleasant one. When I look out at the Fraser River, my stomach turns at the thought of such an onerous structure rising up from the water. I often see various waterfowl including geese and heron in this exact area; a sort of sanctuary.
Also, I assume there has been a proper polling of Quay residents most likely to be affected. One question is the bridge itself which has been considerably transformed from the original proposal but the more pressing problem appears to be the unavoidable intrusiveness of the elevator structure
Considering how long this idea has been in the works, it is understandable why some may be so wedded to this project? However, not at any cost! As currently proposed, this project has become a caricature of the original idea of a visually unobtrusive connection between New West and Port Royal.
C. S. Wilson, New Westminster
