Dear Editor
During the recent August warm spell, we repainted our condo which is adjacent to the new Plaza 88 and Bosa developments. Unfortunately, the work needed to be done with the windows sealed tight. What other option did we have with the deafening noise of not one, not two, but three pile drivers hammering in tandem across the street preparing the sites for new towers.
While I am in general support of council’s decision to approve new developments as a means of revitalizing our downtown, there are clearly a few lessons to be learned from this experience. Approving the concurrent development of three massive towers requiring diesel-powered pile drivers adjacent to residential complexes was a recipe for noise pollution and complaints. Sadly, this could have been severely mitigated or avoided altogether.
Had the city encouraged the developers to invest a few more dollars by utilizing non-percussive piling methods, work could have been completed with minimal noise impact to neighbouring residents. More importantly, council would have retained a sense of goodwill from citizens that all of this “progress” was worth it. To add insult to injury, once the fourth tower at Plaza 88 is completed, it will become the final piece in what some have dubbed the new “giant dark wall” on Carnarvon Street. How ironic considering council just spent millions to demolish parts of another “giant dark wall” known as the Front Street parkade.
If council wants to maintain local resident and business support for the development of new towers moving forward, it had better up its game. Otherwise the loud sound you hear downtown will be that of protesters, not pile drivers.
Daniel Fontaine, New Westminster
