8 June 2006
Gastown Businesses Oppose New Whitecaps Stadium Plan
Vancouver - Gastown Business Improvement Society's
president said Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium wouldn't improve business.
Paul Ardagh said "a majority" of GBIS members are opposed to the stadium, though members have not actually been polled. GBIS
is waging a $10,000 campaign against the proposed 15,000-seat stadium. GBIS hired urban planner Lance Berelowitz and
architect Jennifer Marshall to devise three alternatives released yesterday.
The concepts were done without consulting Vancouver Port Authority or Canadian Pacific Railway and assume the railway tracks would
someday be removed.
"That's interesting," said Whitecaps' director of soccer operations Bob Lenarduzzi. "Quite frankly we'll carry on with
the task at hand and we'll continue to work with the people that can make this happen."
A report to city council last fall said more tracks, not less, are actually needed because of booming international trade.
City hall planner Kevin McNaney's report last week raised red flags about inadequate vehicle access, movement of dangerous goods by
rail, the design's relationship with historic Gastown and its impact on livability. All issues can be resolved with "very large
financial investments, additional site area and cooperation or partnerships with key landowners," he wrote.
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