People’s Co-op Bookstore

The most interesting bookstore on the Drive is the People’s Co-op Bookstore at 1391 Commercial. They have been a vital part of our community since 1983.  Next week is their AGM, which takes place in the store at 7:00pm, on 26th September, and the following is from their latest newsletter:

“Each year, the AGM offers an opportunity to learn about the store’s operations and the events of the past year. The community’s decision to rally behind the co-op and keep the
doors open was nearly two years ago and since then we’ve been hard at work to stabilize the finances, keep the shelves stocked with new and exciting materials, and host intriguing
readings and daring discussions. The Annual General Meeting also represents a call for members to become active in the life and direction of our bookstore. If you want to get more involved in this coming year, we invite you to put your name forward for membership on the Co-op’s board.”

Joining their Board and/or volunteering in the store offers a great way to help one of our neighbourhood’s treasured institutions.

Advertisements

Exploring Grandview

On Saturday 28th September, come explore our wonderful neighbourhood and its history with the help of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Grandview Heritage Tour.

“Following on the success of the 2018 West End Heritage Tour, this tour will be offered in a similar format with the chance to explore a variety of heritage places including private homes, community buildings and long-established businesses …

The tour is self-guided and will offer opportunity to get inside both private and community spaces, ticket holders can choose which ones to visit and in which order. Volunteers and your guide map will offer historical information about each site as well as additional neighbourhood insight.”

During the tour, I will be joining colleagues at a Grandview Heritage Group display table at St. Francis Church.  Buy your tickets at VHF and stop by for a chat!

Grandview’s Ghosts

James Johnstone, one of the finest urban historians working in Vancouver today, has linked up with paranormal investigator Kati Ackerman to present an interesting take on a history walk this coming weekend. The following is from the relevant Meetup site:

“If you are have an interest in Vancouver’s history and/or spirits and exploring the world of the paranormal, then this Special Photo Walk of Vancouver’s hippest, historic and most likely haunted neighbourhood is for you. There will be dozens and dozens of wonderful photo opportunities. James will explain the history of what we see and Kati will share with us about whom she sees and what she hears from the spirits along the way ……. Let’s see which houses, old churches and other buildings along the way are haunted. And who knows? ……… Maybe your camera will catch a ghost!”

The walk begins at 10:00am on Sunday, September 8th, and will last about two and a half hours.  More details at Meetup.

GWAC Meeting: September

The next meeting of the Grandview Woodland Area Council (GWAC) is next Monday, 9th, at 7:00pm at the Learning Resource Centre under the Britannia Library.  The main item on the agenda is the proposed development on Grant Street.

Quoting GWAC’s mailer:

“After almost 2 years in the planning process, and multiple rejections, the public hearing for the final version of this project, a 5-storey building at 1535-1557 Grant Street, will go before  City Council on September 12th. This proposal has caused significant local push back  and you can find out more about why at the upcoming GWAC meeting, Monday September 9th.  Guest speakers will provide background and analysis on the proposal and its implications; there will be lots of time for questions and discussion.

This project offers neither affordable rental nor social housing yet the developer is asking for a full waiver of Development Cost Levies (DCLs) and Community Amenity Contributions (CACs).  If approved, this rezoning has the potential to set a precedent for similar large scale proposals in GW. 

The proposal itself calls for a 5 storey building on a narrow street with no back lane, which will dwarf the adjacent homes.  Some of the concerns expressed by neighbors include: 

• It is a narrow, single lane street, on a steep hill 
• it is unsafe for regular traffic & emergency vehicles
• It won’t accomodate fire trucks or garbage trucks
• It’s not affordable rental even on a living wage
• It’s inconsistent with the promise of the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan
• It has inadequate parking 
• And it has been rejected in its appearances in front of the Planning department’s own advisory board

…..Yet the developers & the City planning department have continued to push it through.

 
If it passes, this building and the approval process it’s gone through will set a precedent for future development around the Drive & throughout Grandview Woodland.

 
We agree the City needs housing, but do we need unaffordable, unsafe and unsuitable housing in an already dense location?”

At the time of the project’s public meeting a year ago, I wrote my own views on the project.  The GWAC meeting is open to everyone, so come along and have your own say.

Laneway Housing: A Learning Experience

More on East Side Pride

We went to the East Side Pride festival at Grandview Park at lunchtime today. It had only just begin so there were not huge crowds yet, but it was colourful an noisy and fun.

Select an image for a better view.

East Side Pride

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow (Saturday 22nd), the central part of the Drive will be filled with fun and games to celebrate East Side Pride.  Activities at Grandview Park begin around 11 am and go on until early evening.

There will be 30+ vendors, food trucks, a bunch of great musical acts and half a dozen drag performances.  It’ll be great fun — come join us!