Dear Editor:
Antique Alley Movie Props is alive and well on Front Street.
New Westminster has changed a lot in the 13 years since we first set up shop. Unlike the old vision of downtown as a historic landmark populated by mom-and-pop businesses, the new vision is best exemplified by a remark I overheard a realtor make to a potential investor: “It will be the next Manhattan.”
The “movers and shakers” in our town at the turn of this century were predicting the Discovery Centre would be the third most popular tourist destination in the GVRD; just behind Granville Island and Science World. I’ve been to Granville Island 100-plus times; Science World over 50. I walk by the Fraser River Discovery Centre twice a week – it never entered my mind to go inside. I don’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings – but I can’t imagine too many tourists fly out of their way to see the world’s largest tin soldier. Nor does the old wharfside vision from the 1990s, the first declaration of reconnecting the city to our waterfront history cut it. By tearing down the parkade we will connect our town to a truck bypass and the train tracks. (They, as they have repeatedly said: “Ain’t going anywhere,” but then who’s listening?)
What about a new vision. The world is a bustle lately with tales of “repurposed parkades” turned into everything from antique markets, art galleries, high-end condos, night clubs, organic gardens, homeless shelters. One of our customer’s, Bob Winstanely, suggested a few thousand dollars spent on glass would turn the second floor of the parkade into a vibrant year round farmers’ market. A flea market? A night market? (Think Pike Place Market in Seattle). Extend the waterfront park onto the roof of the parkade? Give some young hipsters (I’m sure Vancity bank would bankroll them) a chance to build an organic rooftop garden – with a gourmet restaurant.
New West could become a biophilic city like Singapore, by spending some of the $1.8 million budgeted to tear the parkade down on green and living walls a la Patric Blanc.
In October, when the quotes come in from the men with the wrecking balls, I hope the mayor and town council have the courage to throw the project in the waste basket and put out a call for young visionaries to give the parkade a makeover.
An interesting project like that might put New West on every tourist’s map.
And if not, well, I hope our “Manhattan Project” isn’t as devastating as the one that created the nuclear bomb.
Craig Ruttle, New Westminster
