Dear Editor:
Oh happy day! I just wanted to publicly commend the fine folks at Richardson and Port Metro Vancouver and send a big congratulations in their victory against the wee, unimportant residents of the Moodyville area.
I think ensuring a strong trade with Asia absolutely trumps any local concerns of a "great wall" destroying the local's residential investments and well-being.
I, along with my wife Nicol, are renting a gorgeous basement suite in the 500-block of East First Street. We love our morning coffees, the birds, the views of East Vancouver, and even the odd ship that sails past. What we are really looking forward to, though, is that massive grey wall that is going to adorn our entire backyard. Completely gone will be our view - just a massive chunk of concrete in its place. Wheee! Our landlords, who currently live in Calgary, bought this home last July and were planning on retiring out here in the next year or so. They call this home their perfect retirement beach house. It's going to be swell for them, too; they just lost a few hundred thousand dollars. Yippee!
I think, while PMV has some steam, they should continue the "great wall of Asia" all the way around to Deep Cove and back towards the First Narrows. Maybe then, local jurisdictions might fight a little harder to thwart these cash mongers from expanding their stupidly massive eyesore silos. Oh wait . . . local jurisdictions have zero say. Wahoo!
In all seriousness: Richardson and PMV's tunnel vision, lack of real empathy and co-operation, and greed have trumped the concerns of the local residents' ability to enjoy a wonderful locale to live and retire. So sad. So shameful.
As renters we can, and will, move before this is finished. I feel deeply for the older folks who have planted their roots, or purchased their dream house along these streets, with little or no energy or options to relocate. Goodbye, assets.
This really sucks, on so many levels. Shame on Port Metro Vancouver and Richardson for their bullying and lack of finding any sort of mutual solution.
Warm fuzzies all over.
Ryan Matches North Vancouver
