Carrall Street Journal

One Tree Removed Today, Plus Pigeon Park

Carol Sill — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:54:04 +0000

Tree:

I was informed today that one tree was being removed from in front of Bodega Studios. When I contacted the city, I was reminded that it was in the original plan, creating a wheelchair ramp.

“Please note, there is one tree that will be removed on the west side (immediately south of Blood Alley) in order to accommodate construction of a wheelchair ramp. Removal of this tree was shown in the original concept plan for this block as approved by City Council.”

Park:

I wasn’t able to attend the meeting in Strathcona where the plans for the Pigeon Park upgrades were being presented and discussed. There have been very few people around the Pigeon Park area for the past few weeks – anybody know why?

Plans for Pigeon Park

Carol Sill — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:34:46 +0000

Michel Desroches, Planner for Parks and Recreation, City of Vancouver, proposes the following objectives for renovating the Pigeon park:

First objective is to preserve the features that make the park popular with the community – preserving as many trees as possible; preserve sitting/relaxing as primary activity in the park; preserve the open area in the centre of the park as a ‘living room’;

In addition, the City will replace many of the aging features in the park with new features; replacing the base surface in the park, so that it is easy to maintain and has as few trip hazards as possible; replacing the park benches, drinking fountain and lamp post. Also planned is to rebuild the elevated planter around the big tree.
A handful of features will be added to the park. These would include: a handful of “side tables” next to some of the benches, a garbage can, and a public washroom; the rail line as a historic feature and an electrical outlet to support events in the park.

He will present the Pigeon Park concept plan to the Park Board Commissioners on March 2nd so that, if approved, the renovation could proceed in the summer of 2009, which is when the Carrall Greenway (Hastings to Cordova) is scheduled for construction. The thought is that the overall level of disruption during the construction period would be minimized if the two projects were constructed simultaneously.

Take a look at the proposed plan here:

You can download a pdf of this proposed concept plan here.

Contact Michel Desroches if you wish to discuss the plan further. See more on the Carrall Greenway here on the City Website.

Vancouver Sun article: Greenway Trees

Carol Sill — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:55:12 +0000

It was great to see coverage of the tree situation Feb. 5th, in the Vancouver Sun.

Link here to read it.

Can we stop it? YES WE CAN!

Carol Sill — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:04:31 +0000

UPDATE: I spoke with a city worker on the site who told me people were there this morning, and the trees are not going to be removed, they are redesigning something to care for the roots.

Emails were circulated by business owners and residents! City responded! yes we can!

The City will be removing 6 of the 8 mature trees in Gastown today, on the 200 block between Water and Cordova.

I’m quite upset about it, and hope that this doesn’t need to happen. See my post “Mature Gastown Trees Slated for Removal”

It seems a pity, just when we will have the celebration at the Ranier Hotel for the opening of more women’s housing.

And look at the picture just above this posting – what will the street look like with smaller trees….

Ranier Hotel offers Women’s Housing

Carol Sill — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:30:06 +0000

Portland Hotel Society has sent out an invitation to join
The Honourable Rich Coleman,
Minister of Housing and Social Development;
Mayor Gregor Robertson
City of Vancouver;
Heather Hay,
Director of Addictions, HIV/AIDS, Aboriginal Services
Vancouver Coastal Health;

An Open House and Ceremony
to celebrate the Official Revamping of Rainier Hotel by BCHMC, in order to House Women in the Downtown Eastside, including 20 beds of long-term housing and 21 beds for women in need of treatment supports.

Revamping The Rainier Hotel this Wednesday.
February 4, 2009 at 10:30 a.m
309 Carrall Street in Vancouver

With a Carnival side show including performances by Vancouver’s renowned Gospel singer Sybil Thrasher, Chili, Cupcakes, and a chance to get your hair and nails done, or have a massage.

Work’s Begun on Water-Cordova

Carol Sill — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:19:45 +0000

They have started the work on the Water to Cordova link, machines are tearing up the sidewalk, dumptrucks parked on the other side of the street and the low hum of machinery fills the air from early morning on each day now.
I know this has to be done before the tourist season begins, and there is a bit of disruption as delivery trucks have a more difficult time now. Even normal traffic, narrowed to one one-way lane, is affected, but in the long run it will be better for us. More trees, wider spaces, bike lanes.
I pity the poor merchants and owners on that street as the disruption is enough to cause loss of business. After enduring the closures, hoardings etc. of the Terminus construction, moving the Irish Heather across the street, now this. Still, I’m glad this is going ahead, I’d have been very disappointed if the whole project had been stopped for lack of funds etc.

Talks at the Opening of Pennsylvania Hotel

Carol Sill — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:01:54 +0000

Speakers included: Liz Evans, Executive Director of Portland Hotel Society, Hon. Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Services, Tom Siems, CMHC, Mayor Gregor Robertson, Wayne Wright, Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation, Peter Webb, Concord Pacific Group, Earl Crowe, Pennsylvania Hotel Resident. Blessing song from Dalannah Gail Bowen.

Pennsylvania Hotel Opening

Carol Sill — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:52:25 +0000

At the opening of the Pennsylvania Hotel this morning, I took some quick videos of the event:

Portland Hotel Society opened the Pennsylvania Hotel today with a pancake breakfast, gospel choir, speeches and official sign-lighting. Spot the local activists, developers, and politicians in the crowd. Opening of the Pennsylvania Hotel for housing in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. 412 Carrall Street.

The historic neon sign lights up

New Year 2009

Carol Sill — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:09:14 +0000

We’re looking forward to 2009 and the upcoming opening of the block between Pender and Hastings along Carrall. It has been a long slog, and it looks like we won’t see much Greenway activity for a while. City budget changes listed the next area to be done to be Maple Tree Square, unless by some miracle the Hastings-Cordova section gets the green light after all. It will be years until the promised rows of trees and pedestrian/cyclist space is as planned. Meanwhile, kudos to the Pennsylvania Hotel, with the beautiful restored neon sign now gracing the Hastings side of the building.

Its been a cold few weeks with many of the homeless sleeping in the alcoves by the abandoned Ranier Hotel. And only a block away, up from the Feminist show at the ArtSpeak Gallery there were hipsters lined up to take advantage of a boxing day sale at one of the trendy shops.

It was good to see the Irish Heather was open for a pint on Christmas – nice, warm, hospitable. As I walked to Glory Foods to pick up a little milk this morning, I passed the Salty Tongue and saw Scott Hawthorne was getting a coffee, while artist Robert Chaplin stood waiting his turn.

Performance on Carrall Street this Tuesday

Carol Sill — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:44:56 +0000

Art on Carrall – literally about Carrall Street. This is the kind of thing I’ve been thinking about for years, and now it looks like Althea Thauberger is making art about this street and its complexities.

Can’t wait to walk out my door and see what she has put together.

ARTSPEAK | CARRALL STREET | ALTHEA THAUBERGER | SEP 30
————————————————————————
CARRALL STREET | ALTHEA THAUBERGER

Tuesday, September 30, 2008
8-11pm in the 200 block of Carrall Street, Vancouver

Carrall Street Public Forum
Thursday, October 2, 2008
7pm at 33 West Cordova Street

Althea Thauberger’s one-night performance, Carrall Street, will present the
street (brightly lit like a film set at nighttime) as a stage, or zone of
illumination where the roles of performer and spectator blur. The
interweaving of organized performers, passers-by and audience members will
allow for unforeseen interactions to take place that reveal something of
the street’s history, its current issues, as well as its future. Carrall
Street is planned in collaboration with local directors, performers and
community members.

Carrall Street is one of the oldest streets in Vancouver. It can be argued
that the entire history (and pre-history) of the city can be mapped along
its six blocks. Caught between urban gentrification and decay, the street
marks transitions from the most touristic parts of the city to what is
often described as the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. In ways that are
both unique and similar to other inner cities, it has been affected by
development, public policy neglect and polarized politics.

A publication accompanying the project will be available in 2009.

Althea Thauberger is an artist based in Vancouver. Her work involves
research and collaboration that result in performances, films, photographs,
audio recordings and books.

The performance and forum are free and open to the public.

This project has been supported by Arts Partners in Creative Development,
The Canada Council for the Arts, the City of Vancouver and the Portland
Hotel Society.