Dear Editor:
Re: Polygon’s March 10 town hall meeting for Site 8.
There was not the overflow turnout of hundreds when Millennium proposed a 40-storey building for this site (at 119-131 West Esplanade, 120 Carrie Cates Court) a few years ago. This time it was fewer than a hundred, and mainly seniors. Heck, not even anyone from city council bothered to show up.
Polygon gave a brief overview stating its position that 35 feet higher than the official community plan and a narrower building was esthetically preferable to the massive wall that Pinnacle presents along Esplanade to the east. It should be noted that Polygon’s lot is much smaller than Pinnacle.L
There were a few questions about the underground railway tracks, traffic and parking, but not much about the building itself.
Polygon proposes 110 suites in 10 floors and 140 parking spots including those for visitors. The 10 floors are to be above a two-storey podium that will include not-for-profit entities. As well, amenities include a cleanup of the SeaBus/bus loop area.
Speakers appeared equally balanced for and against.
Supporters included: the Polygon presentation centre next door, the Lonsdale Quay Market, a Chadwick Court presenter who said he had 20 per cent support from Chadwick residents, a spokesman for the not-for-profits and a wheelchair bound speaker who praised better local access for the disabled.
Those who spoke against were residents affected by the over-height aspect. Some came from up Lonsdale. Some from the Lower Lonsdale community. Their theme was about an OCP that people based investment decisions on only to have the OCP ignored.
It was a low-key affair lacking the emotion of the Millennium town hall meeting. Done deal? That’s my take-away.
Robert Thompson
North Vancouver
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