Water Restrictions Begin Today

Being in lockdown against the virus is no reason to forget our other obligations.  Thanks to City Hall Watch for reminding us that summertime water restrictions are now in place:

Water usage restrictions in Vancouver have come into effect on May 1st. These restrictions will last until October 15th.

Stage 1 of the restrictions limits lawn watering to Wednesday and Saturday (4am – 9am) for even-numbered addresses, while addresses with odd numbers can be watered on Thursday and Sunday, again from 4am to 9am. Watering lawns outside of these hours is not permitted and subject to a $250 fine as stated in the ticket offences bylaw for Phase 1.

The City may move to more restrictive water usage stages (Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4) where fines increase to $500, $750 and $1000 respectively. A chart showing water reservoir levels over the last 4 years is available on MetroVancouver.org.

Image: Tulips and Vase

Grandview 1st May 1920

Province, 19200501, p.25

For a fuller picture of this bust and its consequences, see the essay on GHG website.

 

All previous Grandview 1920 clippings

Changes on the Drive #105

Doing the walk this month was even more depressing than last month as nothing has changed to improve the situation, and a number of businesses have announced this month that they are closing for good.

As we approach the end of spring, we usually see the Drive begin to blossom with patio cafes filled with happy diners, and crowded sidewalks; none of that exists right now, and it might as well be mid-winter. With the big street festivals — Italian Day and Car Free Day — already cancelled, the good times seem far away.

• Cabrito’s at 2270 Commercial has closed.
• Mark’s Pet Store at 1875 Commercial is closing, though this is from a desire for retirement rather than as a direct result of the virus.
• Federico’s Supper Club at 1728 Commercial has announced its closure.
• Storm Crow Tavern at 1305 Commercial has closed for good after seven years.  The owners thanked patrons for making the Tavern a special place for the “misfits, the geeks, the oddballs and bohemians of Commercial Drive and Vancouver in general.”

The Cubana Sandwich from Havana Restaurant at 1212 Commercial gets a call out from Scout.  It is still available for take-out.

Image: Scout Magazine

Kulinarya at 1134 Commercial gets a pleasant write up about their take-out and delivery options.

Eternal Abundance at 1025 Commercial was broken into early in April. From their Instagram message:

“We were broken into last night. Front window smashed, tills sawed off and stolen, debit machines, laptop, delivery tablet all stolen. Not much reward for the burglars but a lot of damage to fix and things to replace on our part. Small businesses are already struggling due to the times, so being violated on top of this is just such an incredibly discouraging blow when we’re already down.”

That’s really all I have to report this month.

 

Vacancies on the Drive this month:  Nothing that was closed has re-opened yet, so this list is an update from last month.  Listings in bold are those businesses that have announced their closure this month.

2277 Commercial (vacant 10 months), 2270 (1 month), 2223 (14 months), 2137 (3 months), 1752 (3 months), 1740 (9 months), 1728 (1 month), 1608 (4 months), 1305 (1 month), 1303 (7 months), 1012 (7 months), 1003 (3 months), 935 (3 months).

Previous Changes On The Drive editions.

International Day of the Worker

 

In most parts of the world, May 1st is recognized as the International Day of the Worker and we celebrate it as such. Labor Day in September is a North American tradition, encouraged by President Grover Cleveland so as to distance American labour from socialists and anarchists.