"Beneath veneer of scientific neutrality traffic engineering operates to prejudice of anyone on foot" @CityLab

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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"A lot of people don’t walk because they are afraid it will kill them before it makes them healthier" @CityLab http://t.co/agAp1qhn3g

— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) December 30, 2014

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From PlaceSpeak — Building a sustainable and prosperous waterfront @GeorgiaStraitBC

Georgia Strait Alliance's Waterfront Initiative is a collaborative effort to build a vision for a sustainable and prosperous urban shoreline in Vancouver and to develop an action plan to make this vision a reality. We are inviting all those with an interest in the future of the city's waterfront to work together—First Nations and all other levels of government, businesses, civil society, and citizens.  More at: PlaceSpeak - Building a sustainable and prosperous waterfront

#Montreal to transform expressway into multi-modal urban boulevard @archpaper

#Montreal to transform expressway into multi-modal urban boulevard http://t.co/r7If0Ki58W pic.twitter.com/XnpoYxozGe
— Architects Newspaper (@archpaper) December 29, 2014

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Which BC cities are growing fastest? @bcbusiness

Fastest growing municipalities in BC: http://t.co/JenRgy1rQo pic.twitter.com/r3BKaFeiPW

— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) December 23, 2014

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"Urban affordability and parking policy are closely connected" @CityLab

"for every parking stall we don't require developers to build, we can save 25% to 35% of the cost of rent" http://t.co/K6SUib8zSd #cplan
— Urbanpolicy (@UrbanPolicy) December 20, 2014

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From Mother Jones — Which Kills More Americans: Guns or Cars?

Post by Mother Jones.

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From Project for Public Spaces — Walkability, Quality Public Space Can Be Created in Communities of Any Size

It is true that larger communities often have greater financial resources than smaller communities to mitigate challenges, but there still are appropriate solutions for each and every community. Take Golden, Colorado – Population: 19,186. You probably think Golden, Colorado is either a resort community or a suburb of Denver. It’s actually neither. A mountain community with its own vibrant, local economy, Golden, Colorado has made a commitment to creating places that are designed for people – not cars. And their economy has benefited greatly from this commitment. Read more: Project for Public Spaces | Walkability, Quality Public Spaces Can Be Created in Communities of Any Size

From Sustainable Cities Collective — Sydney Harbor Development Barangaroo Comes Together

After nearly ten years of planning and development, Barangaroo, a 22-hectare port on the Sydney waterfront, is coming together as a rich, $6 billion, mixed-use development that will fill in missing gaps in the city’s waterfront promenade and offer a stunning, one-of-a-kind park with an embedded Aboriginal cultural center. As Peter Walker, FASLA, PWP Landscape Architecture, described at the ASLA 2014 Annual Meeting in Denver, “it’s the most amazing project I’ve ever worked on.” Throughout Barangaroo, there will be a 50/5o split between buildings and parks. Headland Park, in the north, will be entirely green public space, while Barangaroo South will be entirely developed... offering a mix of residential, commercial, and retail space. 

Read more: Sydney Harbor Development | Sustainable Cities Collective

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From Next City — New San Diego Park Reconnects City and Waterfront

“It’s supposed to be a hallway connecting the city to the water.” San Diego's new park. http://t.co/5QgYZXdZZM pic.twitter.com/WUFqN1csph
— Next City (@NextCityOrg) December 5, 2014

When San Diego laid out a vision for its waterfront in 1998, the North Embarcadero could have been any city’s under-utilized bayside space. Once a throughway for Navy and fishing traffic, it had been “cut off from downtown with large expanses of asphalt,” according to one document, including roads, large parking lots and superblocks that literally isolated the city from what had once been its front door. Read more: New San Diego Park Reconnects City and Waterfront

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From Nanaimo Bulletin — Video chat with Nanaimo Councillor Bill Yoachim

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From StrongTowns.org — Just another pedestrian killed

CHARLES MAROHN I’m fed up with people being killed because my profession contains a bunch of dogmatic idiots. I’m sure the response of some will be: But Chuck, the driver was drunk, this isn’t the engineer’s fault. Ridiculous. If I had a $100 for every time I heard an engineer recommend some stupid tree removal or curve widening because “some drunk is going to come through here and get killed” I would be fully funding Strong Towns with the interest off my latent wealth. We consider the drunk when it suits our purposes -- the free flow of traffic -- and ignore them when it doesn't. That's the sign of a broken moral compass.

The right thing to do here is pretty obvious: SLOW DOWN THE CARS! When you enter into an urban environment, the expectation must be that travel speeds are very slow (I think a 20 mph design speed is too fast – 15 mph would be the top in my opinion) because we need to FORGIVE the common mistakes of humans, both in their cars and out. In a complex urban environment, the only way to do that is to slow down the speed of travel. We must lower the cost of a mistake. Read more: JUST ANOTHER PEDESTRIAN KILLED

Just another pedestrian killed. When will the traffic engineering profession own these tragedies? http://t.co/DduHSRrquS
— Charles Marohn (@clmarohn) December 3, 2014

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Downtown San Diego "Portland Loo" celebrated @GirlsThinkTank

.@GirlsThinkTank celebrated the installation of a bathroom facility at 14th and L Street. | http://t.co/KDeiXCAXaG pic.twitter.com/S5NinZyEJR
— Anthony Bernal (@AnthonyBernalSD) December 3, 2014

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Narrower streets/slower speeds = pedestrian safety @jen_keesmaat

Narrower streets/slower speeds and pedestrian safety; as speed increases, peripheral sight lines decrease. pic.twitter.com/1OOGfyy77I #TOpoli

— jennifer keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) November 28, 2014

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Presentation House $4million closer to new home on ‪#‎NorthVan‬ ‪#‎waterfront‬ @straightarts

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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#Nanaimo Bastion named one of the top 100 buildings in BC @NanaimoMuseum

The Bastion was named one of the top 100 buildings in BC - top three on Vancouver Island! A #Nanaimo landmark! http://t.co/rItbZMpesc

— Nanaimo Museum (@NanaimoMuseum) November 28, 2014

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From Vancouver Public Space Network — 50 Ideas for Improving Public Space

The Vancouver Public Space Network is a volunteer-run non-profit doing advocacy, education and outreach on Vancouver’s public realm. Since 2008, the VPSN has produced Last Candidate Standing and simultaneously released a series of policy recommendations for improving the state of Vancouver’s public spaces. Here are the VPSN’s priorities for the consideration of candidates for local government to take action on from 2014 to 2018: –  you can read more here: http://bit.ly/1zq9y7Y And on Facebook.

#Nanaimo #GeorgiaPark lease: where's City Parks Dept? Parks Commission?

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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Is a hotel loading zone appropriate use of city park land? http://t.co/g4X88R6zxE #GeorgiaPark @cityofnanaimo Parks & Rec?

— Scott Kimler (@randsco) November 21, 2014

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Privately owned public space. What could possibly go wrong?

Publicly-owned private space in London: "Garden bridge" to close at night, not allow protests: http://t.co/OmvKD63uOb pic.twitter.com/kQpkOl5ZHV

— Stephen Miller (@miller_stephen) November 21, 2014

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—@VIUniversity launches Master of Community Planning Degree Program

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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This is the pedestrian experience in our cities

This brilliant illustration shows how much public space we've surrendered to cars http://t.co/cpUcRzXY9t pic.twitter.com/BSN5FG7ig9
— Vox (@voxdotcom) November 19, 2014

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NYC lowered speed limit to 25. Other cities should do it too.

Post by Project for Public Spaces.

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Downtown surface parking doesn't leave much actual city

Whoa. Doesn't leave much actual city. RT @HenryGrabar Surface parking in downtown Little Rock: pic.twitter.com/bQVNjRs7lg
— Taras Grescoe (@grescoe) November 17, 2014

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#Nanaimo municipal election #VoteNanaimo

#VoteNanaimo Tweets

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#nanelxn14 Tweets

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Don't say you weren't warned #Nanaimo #nanelxn14

#Nanaimo will your park be next? Bill McKay wants to turn my waterfront park over to a commercial interest http://t.co/db8Ea71jYV #nanelxn14

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) November 13, 2014

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—@mckayformayor A Holiday Inn for Pipers Lagoon? A Ramada for Colliery Dam Park? #nanelxn14

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) November 13, 2014

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These are the concerns of #Nanaimo voters and in this exact order of importance...

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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Vancouver Courier: Voting is about you, your community and your money 

New @WaterfrontTO + Port Lands video Via @GraphicMatt

New @WaterfrontTO hype video concludes with a snazzy Port Lands render. https://t.co/w3ufLXl8IS pic.twitter.com/6IbOy4rFzH

— Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt) November 7, 2014

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We've shifted city building away from #publicspace @jen_keesmaat

With mass suburbanization, we shifted our city building away from shared public spaces to an emphasis on private space. #PublicRealm

— jennifer keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) November 4, 2014

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What are the #nanelxn14 issues for residents in #Nanaimo? @ShawTV_CVI

RT @ShawTV_CVI: What are the issues for residents in #Nanaimo? #bcpoli #nanelxn14 #shawtv http://t.co/Ub6hNssuKQ

— Hilary Eastmure (@HilaryEastmure) November 3, 2014

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From Price Tags — Arthur Erickson on False Creek development – 1983

Fascinating Jack Webster interview with Arthur Erickson in 1983, discussing the development of B.C. Place (when it was a proposed megaproject to be developed by the Province) for which he was the consulting architect. Renderings start at 9.45. (A very-80s Dave Podmore, head of planning for B.C. Place, shows up – that’s him pictured.) Full post at: Arthur Erickson on False Creek development – 1983 | Price Tags

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From Project for Public Spaces — How to Restore Walking as a Way of Life

The bias in our national philosophy towards high speed mobility has long been a topic that PPS has advocated against. In addition to stifling Placemaking, forcing people into cars has contributed to a host of growing national problems. Most compelling of those problems is the incredible pedestrian carnage. Yet until recently public outcry was minimal and government investment in transportation paid only lip service to annual fatalities that amount to the equivalent of one major airplane crash each month. Read more: Project for Public Spaces | How to Restore Walking as a Way of Life

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Privately owned public space. What could go wrong? RT @CBC_Aboriginal

Privately owned public space. What could go wrong? RT @CBC_Aboriginal: 6-month ban for Gary Moostoos will be lifted http://t.co/fAkoALg2u2

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) October 29, 2014

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Jeff Speck's Albuquerque New Mexico Downtown Walkability Analysis

Albuquerque, New Mexico Downtown Walkability Analysis. This project focuses on walkability and connectivity in downtown, with special attention to the area surrounding the Convention Center and Innovate ABQ site as well as the railroad track at Central Avenue. Jeff Speck's final report submitted Sept 2014 here. More from the City of Albuquerque's website here.

From Voting Helps — How a boarded up building became the heart of a community

Lisa Helps I was talking with a downtown business owner yesterday evening. She, like many, is concerned about the increased number of vacancies downtown over the past few years. We see this every day in the for lease signs that have become all too common in downtown storefronts. “We need to do downtown what you did in Fernwood,” she said to me. And she pointed to the creativity, innovation and bold action that me and others at Fernwood NRG took to address a big vacancy in the heart of our village centre and to revitalize the neighbourhood. It was early 2005... 

Read more: How a boarded up building became the heart of a community: The Cornerstone Story - Voting Helps

From Better! Cities & Towns — A low-cost approach to walkability

Making downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, more walkable doesn’t have to cost a bundle, according to consultant Jeff Speck. The author of Walkable City delivered a report to the city, which included the following recommendations:.

• Replace 19 low-volume traffic lights with stop signs.

• Narrow standard 12-foot travel lanes lanes to 10 feet. “This extra (lane) width does nothing except to encourage speeding,” he said. “It doesn’t improve the flow.”

• Convert two streets to two-way traffic from one-way.

• Provide more green space.

• Reduce the number of travel lanes on a few streets.

• Provide more on-street parking, which buffers pedestrians, and bicycle lanes. Reduction in lanes and lane widths will provide the space.

• Reduce the size of a major public space, Civic Plaza, which Speck says is too big to feel comfortable for pedestrians.

Read more: A low-cost approach to walkability | Better! Cities & Towns Online

#SD68 First for all the wrong reasons @jeffsd68 #nanelxn14

Post by Jeff Solomon for School Board Trustee.

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Your Waterfront — Where Aukland City Meets the Sea

‎"A world-class destination that excites the senses and celebrates our sea loving pacific culture and maritime history. It supports commercially successful and innovative businesses and is a place for all people, an area rich in character and activities that link people to the city and the sea".  

More at Your Waterfront, Where Aukland City Meets the Sea  

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TCL + WA present … Auckland Waterfront – North Wharf Promenade & Silo Park from TCL on Vimeo.

Why are candidates afraid to discuss this during the current #Nanaimo campaign?

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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#Minneapolis' Downtown Transit Hub @archpaper

Pictorial> #Minneapolis' Downtown Transit Hub by @PerkinsEastman http://t.co/AQokVa3Ya1 pic.twitter.com/kpZ5T0UmzG
— Architects Newspaper (@archpaper) October 20, 2014

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@BrentToderian on #Aukland's waterfront @WaterfrontAKL

Well into 2 creative days working with @WaterfrontAKL on planning, design & "culture" of #WynyardQuarter #Auckland. pic.twitter.com/U9x7aJ5lo6

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 19, 2014

The transformation of #Auckland's waterfront has been remarkable - creative, successful #placemaking. @WaterfrontAKL pic.twitter.com/5P0JcQQL0z

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 19, 2014

Transformative #placemaking. RT @AKLdesignchamp: @WaterfrontAKL before & after. Making dramatic changes. #Auckland pic.twitter.com/NiJtjmEfw7

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 19, 2014

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South Downtown Waterfront, Georgia Park On Monday Council Agenda

South Downtown Waterfront Committee — Revised Mandate and Objectives To obtain Council support for the continuation of the South Downtown Waterfront Committee.

Minutes of the Georgia Park / Insight Developments Public Hearing. Adopt the amended minutes.

100+ in attendance, a large majority of the delegations were opposed. Councillor Brennan's motion to defer the Staff Report back for further work, clarification, defeated. Councillor Brennan, Kipp, Pattje in favour. Motion to approve the height and square footage increases approved, Councillors Brennan, Kipp, Pattje opposed. Council now to decide on method of "elector  assent".

There is every indication that Senior Staff and most Councillors want to ensure that the lease of the waterfront park is not an issue for public discussion during the current election campaign. We can each draw our own conclusion as to why they fear its proper public airing.

Written submissions to the hearing (minutes state there were 36 written submissions and 20 delegations) here.

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@Helijet to launch flights between ‪#‎Nanaimo‬, Vancouver

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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Squamish Oceanfront Development

Oct 18 + 25 @SqFarmersMarket come chat with staff working on the #Oceanfront project & have your questions answered pic.twitter.com/2pCvG2QWtM
— Squamish Oceanfront (@sqoceanfront) October 15, 2014

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From Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation website — 
Impressive in scale and inspiring in spirit, Squamish Oceanfront is a new master-planned community that brings together the best British Columbia has to offer for living, working, learning and playing. This is a community in the truest sense of the word, incorporating residential, professional, commercial, educational, cultural and recreational elements in an area already world-renowned for its unparalleled beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. 

RT @DenverWWAD @SFUPublicSquare Video on Civic Engagement

For #walkers interested in health issues: Video on Civic Engagement http://t.co/wEu1i2SA39 via @NanaimoCommons @SFUPublicSquare:

— Walk with a Doc DEN (@DenverWWAD) October 14, 2014

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Hashtag #nanelxn14 #Nanaimo election 2014

#nanelxn14 Tweets

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In honour of #InternationalWalkToSchoolDay @BrentToderian

"Your point? Made." In honour of #InternationalWalkToSchoolDay, #LetKidsRide or #LetKidsWalk to school. pic.twitter.com/l5UQzby6EF

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) October 8, 2014

"There is too much #traffic for Billy to walk to school. So we drive him." We can change this. Help spread the word. pic.twitter.com/FC93lCsqmP

— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 17, 2014

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"Empire Days" an international embarrassment for #Nanaimo @CBC_Aboriginal

Seattle City Council replaces Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day http://t.co/QexChigsVy pic.twitter.com/da6ixcdsrQ

— CBC_Aboriginal (@CBC_Aboriginal) October 7, 2014

Overdue by decades! @JJWmortgages "Empire Days" an international embarrassment for #Nanaimo @CBC_Aboriginal @dougswhite

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) October 7, 2014

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Audain Whistler museum takes shape with major E.J. Hughes loan @bcbusiness

Future #Whistler museum takes shape with major E.J. Hughes loan: http://t.co/gjLNG6qEaM pic.twitter.com/SgR98OPkD9

— BCBusiness (@bcbusiness) October 7, 2014

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New fast acting "Lout" spray — Politician remover

Post by Gord Fuller.

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Georgia Park should stay a park and not be part of a hotel. @BuccaneerInn

This should stay a park and not be part of a hotel. #badidea #Nanaimo @cityofnanaimo pic.twitter.com/xnduCIU0Jl

— Buccaneer Inn (@BuccaneerInn) October 4, 2014

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Remind me — Why do we fight to get big box retail? @StrongTowns

Post by Strong Towns.

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From YourWaterfront.co.nz — Where Auckland City Meets the Sea

"A world-class destination that excites the senses and celebrates our sea loving pacific culture and maritime history. It supports commercially successful and innovative businesses and is a place for all people, an area rich in character and activities that link people to the city and the sea". Read more: Your Waterfront, Auckland | Events, Activities, Marinas, Arts, Restaurants & Bars, Things to Do | Home

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Seaspan Marine railway barge connecting Nanaimo to all of NA Class 1 Railways @ICF_IslandRail

Post by Island Corridor Foundation.

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"But there may be changes to the [#Nanaimo Georgia Park] lease area" — City Mgr @TedSwabey

"But there may be changes to the [#Nanaimo Georgia Park] lease area" City Mgr @TedSwabey @RobertJBarron @NanaimoDaily http://t.co/aPSMmFhahJ

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) October 2, 2014

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From Architect Magazine — Design Competition Winners Snøhetta and Dialog Release Calgary Central Library Designs

Snøhetta and Dialog have released final designs (and video) for a new Central Library in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, following a lengthy stage of community engagement to develop their competition-winning proposal from 2013. Working with Canadian firm Dialog—which has offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Calgary—as executive architect, Snøhetta designed a 236,000-square-foot library that covers an existing light rail station, and incorporates gradual elevation changes within the landscape topography to lift the building above the station. Read more: Snøhetta and Dialog Release Calgary Central Library Designs - Architect Magazine

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“The younger generation is using #Placemaking as a rallying cry.” — @Fred_Kent @NextCityOrg @PPS_Placemaking

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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New Masters of Community Planning Program at @VIUniversity approved by the province!

New Masters of Community Planning Program at @VIUniversity approved by the province! The first cohort is planned for September 2015. Pls RT

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) September 26, 2014

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Leasing parkland would be lasting mistake — @NanaimoBulletin

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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From Urban Planner Ryan J. Gilmore — Lessons Learned from Winnipeg’s Waterford Green

Waterford Green is a new subdivision in the City of Winnipeg and is one of the first developments to complete the new collaborative approach. This development stands as an example of the enhanced outcomes that are possible through a collaborative planning process and exemplifies the policies of Complete Communities. Read more: Case-in-Point – Implementing ‘Complete Communities’ Collaboratively: Lessons learned from Winnipeg’s Waterford Green | Ryan J. Gilmore

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2014 #UBCM Annual Convention Whistler

#ubcm Tweets

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PARK(ing) Day in #Nanaimo. Parking spots temporary "park lets." @DowntownNanaimo

Post by Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association.

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#trans_form Speaker Series #3 — Creating a City for Everyone @Penalosa_G @kteschke

It's almost here! #trans_form #3 is tomorrow night @LeVelo_Victoria @OlenaNina @CommunityMike @RethinkUrban #yyj pic.twitter.com/TEzgqlMtYo

— GreaterVictoriaCycle (@GVCC) September 17, 2014

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‪#‎Nanaimo‬ "Georgia Park lease deserves referendum” @NanaimoBulletin editorial @tamaracunning

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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#Nanaimo waterfront park needs an independent open design competition.

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

From March 16 City of Vancouver — Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts Study

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From @archpaper — Finalists reveal plans for SF Parklands project

Post by The Architect's Newspaper.

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#Vancouver Seawall "Canada's best public place" - it's also a neighbourhood & multi-modal corridor. @BrentToderian

#Vancouver's Seawall has been named Canada's best public place - but it's also a neighborhood & multi-modal corridor. pic.twitter.com/zATF7zAeSg
— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) September 8, 2014

Nanaimo’s seawall parks and neighbourhoods are first rate and our best asset. Our City Hall has just passed an upzoning for a pie-in-the-sky “Hilton” hotel development on the waterfront and our City Hall is considering privatizing large portions of our waterfront Georgia Park.

This stealth privatization is being done on 3 fronts: 

• an outright “lease” turning parkland over to the developer for a loading zone area (semi’s and delivery vans servicing a 330+ room hotel, patio areas for hotel cafes and lounges and a “grand staircase” creating a flow from the hotel lobby directly down to the waterfront promenade).

• portraying the aggressive extension of its lobby into and onto our parkland by a “grand staircase” connecting to the harbour side promenade as a community benefit. “Connectivity” between Front Street through the hotel to the staircase. This staircase is to be included in lands under their control by a 60 year lease agreement.

• perhaps most objectionably of all, the agreement with Staff to apply the very modest Community Amenity Contribution created by the huge uplift in value created by City concessions to be spent only on areas immediately surrounding their property and in concert with their landscape architects.

Staff report to Council here. 

Up-zoning to 114.3 m height and FAR of 12 approved Sept 3 at a well attended public hearing, a large majority of delegates speaking against the height and massing application and the park give-away . Sale of land currently designated lane-way that runs the property perimeter on the north and east sides (which alternatively could have been added to this park area which has been overdue for a redesign for at least 15 years). If there was a strong evidence based argument on which the City made these decisions, I didn’t hear it expressed by Council, it wasn’t made by the proponent at the public hearing and I see no sign of it in the Staff report.

The park lease provision, if the idea itself isn’t pulled off the table now just weeks before the municipal election, will require a referendum. Opposition to the loss of control over parkland, especially a much-loved and popular waterfront park, is strong, broad and spreading.

More background and further thoughts here. 

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emails to Councillors Bestwick, Kipp re #Nanaimo waterfront hotel public hearing

Subject: Fwd: Georgia Park
Date: September 4, 2014 at 1:45:33 PM PDT

To: Jim Kipp  jim.kipp@nanaimo.ca

Hi Jim, forwarding to you this this note to Bill Bestwick. I can tell you that from my chats with people at the park each morning over the last couple of weeks there is very broad opposition to the loss of control of this precious parkland, essentially its privatization. This is hitting a nerve very much like the one that inflamed the Harewood neighbourhood over the Colliery Dam Park crisis.

There may be a win / win scenario achievable here, but clearly, this isn’t it. I hope you’ll vote to send this back to the drawing board.

Frank Murphy

Subject: Georgia Park
Date: September 4, 2014 at 1:31:09 PM PDT

To: Bill Bestwick  bill.bestwick@nanaimo.ca

Hi Bill, I was sorry to hear you won’t be running for Mayor but glad to hear you will run again for a Council seat.

I was particularly impressed with how you were able to offer level-headed leadership throughout the Colliery Dam Park crisis. Two things you said, after Council had no other choice but to reverse course, stood out for me: “Nanaimo, I’m glad to see you still have it in you.” and I paraphrase — you said that if you had to choose between this park and its lakes and a beloved hockey rink, you would not hesitate to choose saving the park.

And speaking of hockey, consider the “suicide pass”. A teammate gets out of trouble passing the puck to another teammate who is not in a position to do anything productive with it, but will loose possession and get knocked flying in the process. Strikes me that is what Staff has passed to Council by recommending that sections of Georgia Park on our waterfront be leased out to a hotel development.

My morning walk takes me along our fine harbour-front promenades and I’ve had the chance to talk to strollers and people enjoying the park each day. The thought of loosing control of this precious parkland is truly abhorrent to people. The recommendation should be withdrawn and the huge height and building massing increases in front of Council this evening should be rejected until the other elements presented to Council on August 11 as interconnected: the leasing out of parkland, the sale of the City owned lane-way property are resolved. 

Georgia Park needs, as it has for a number of years now, a redesign, a revitalization. I believe talented landscape architects and park designers can redesign the park in a way that first and foremost enhances this area for the greater community in a way that co-operatively and collaboratively meets as many of the hotel’s needs as possible. Without hearing from these experts, this should not proceed. An open design competition should be the first step. From there Council and Nanaimo-ites can decide if there is a win/win fit with what the developer has in mind.

Here’s the detail of the upzoning variances Insight is asking for. ‪#‎Nanaimo‬

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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Ian Gartshore submission to #Nanaimo Georgia Park privatization hearing @ShoreEnergySolu

Post by Ian Gartshore.

Ian Gartshore submission to #Nanaimo Georgia Park privatization hearing @ShoreEnergySolu... http://t.co/gmDPL1KN06
— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) September 3, 2014

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Progressive #Nanaimo new candidates forum Sept 17 @ProNanaimo

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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Time for leadership @Bill_McKay11 Dont turn parks over to commercial xclusv control

Time for leadership @Bill_McKay11 Dont turn parks over to commercial xclusv control @ProtectionIsle @theDoorsgirl @midislandnews @FredPattje

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) September 1, 2014

#Nanaimo giving away public assets MT @NanaimoCommons @ProtectionIsle @midislandnews @FredPattje @Bill_McKay11 http://t.co/VFfBHml2wS

— Fredriko.Quanzo (@FredrikoQuanzo) September 2, 2014

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#Nanaimo Waterfront Hotel Proposal — Let's play with some numbers...

$100 million.

How close to this very large number does the total capital Insight could raise if their 300+ room hotel proposal was fully subscribed by owners/investors purchasing individual rooms?

Let’s consider what the investor/purchaser might be offered before a single brick is laid:

• No Development Cost Charges. 

• The City of Nanaimo has agreed to selling adjoining property, currently designated as an alley, to the development rather than adding it to adjoining parkland.

• A 10 year property tax exemption.

• An agreement with the global hotel brand Hilton to operate the finished hotel.

• Control just short of ownership of waterfront parkland (a lease) adjoining the property for utility uses such as delivery bays and for restaurant and cafe patios.

• Generous rezoning allowing for greater height and massing than currently permitted.

• The modest Community Amenity Contribution created by the value lift of the property by the City’s generous actions, is to be spent in the park areas nearest the project.

Pretty nice package even before the investor weighs the merits of the business plan. 

.@NanaimoCommons Loss of parkland for a development project seems like an utter rejection of #sustainability by local officials.
— Kevin H. Posey (@KevinHPosey) August 26, 2014

Insight has a very smart idea here and I honestly wish I had thought of it! And is it at the end of the day any of my business? They own the property and I’d defend their right to raise investment capital any legal way they want. However —

Letter: Citizens care about downtown parks @NanaimoBulletin http://t.co/rdgYA1qJa7
— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) August 29, 2014

Once the project exceeded it’s site, and the zoning restrictions in place, things changed fundamentally. The value that will be put on the market here to small strata owner/investors is provided by 3 pretty big players: Insight Developments who own the property; the Hilton Corporation who we’re told have contracted to operate the hotel; and here’s the thing: a large part of the value of the investment product will be supplied by you and me, that is the City of Nanaimo.

Let’s take a closer look at the investor, the business plan and Insight’s role once, as they’ve said is their plan, they turn over ownership of the building to the strata corporation owned in turn by some 300 small investors. 

—@anderson_spence No mention of Insight plan: turn bldng over to strata corp asap—Interesitng? http://t.co/qdk9lh7xdS http://t.co/u2KqZ0wqOb
— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) August 27, 2014

Save Georgia Park #Nanaimo let's save our public park 4 future generations http://t.co/85yK55ZQ2I #nanaimoelxn
— Mid Island News (@midislandnews) August 31, 2014

Two of the three parties bringing value here, Insight and Hilton, have minimized risk while standing to reap great benefit. Good for them, that’s smart. The third party, the City of Nanaimo, is bringing considerable assets to the table, as listed above, and our potential upside is very difficult to quantify. We risk the loss of parkland, our portion of the cost of park upgrading which may or may not have been a high priority before we became involved in the hotel project, we risk, having given away the uplift value we’ve created, never being able to receive our rightful return on our investment. 

Once the project exceeded its site and existing zoning regulations and if it was accommodated by the City, we would effectively become principals and it’s time we did some due diligence.

We need to know the exact details of the agreement with Hilton and how it extends to the corporation we are in fact dealing with here: a corporation that doesn’t actually exist yet, but when it does, Insight with whom we are dealing now will no longer be a player.

We need the proponent to supply an independent analysis of the viability of the hotel project. I think it’s just prudent to assume that the mom and pop investors who will be enticed to invest in this project will lack the research resources to weigh such macro economic factors as the long and short term forecasts of the Chinese economy and of Asian tourist market trends.

Parkland is what makes # Nanaimo great. Don't loose Georgia Park. Letters to @NanaimoBulletin http://t.co/czlD97zKlc
— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) August 30, 2014 

Cynical rush to public hearing of #Nanaimo waterfront hotel proposal... http://t.co/vUSsbPWe8T
— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) August 26, 2014 

We need to be as savvy negotiators as our experienced partners in this enterprise. We need to withhold any approval of land purchases and park use permits, of rezoning applications until we have satisfactorily concluded win/win agreements that bring the best value to the community. Approving the rezoning applications now leaves the City effectively hampered in negotiating any other outstanding issues. Why would we even consider doing that?

We need to ensure by covenant and or any other means that our concessions are “use it or loose it” and expire in total at the end of a set time frame.

Enjoy #Nanaimo's harbour waterfront walkway now because big changes coming http://t.co/85yK55ZQ2I cc @ProtectionIsle
— Mid Island News (@midislandnews) August 31, 2014

@midislandnews @ProtectionIsle All I can think of is that song, "paved paradise, put up a parking lot".
— cindy (@theDoorsgirl) August 31, 2014

Ooh, bop bop bop. @theDoorsgirl @midislandnews It can be stopped, but #Nanaimo citizens need to take notice & speak up.
— Protection Island (@ProtectionIsle) August 31, 2014

Public hearing this Thursday. Why the rush? @ProtectionIsle @theDoorsgirl @midislandnews cc @FredPattje @Bill_McKay11 http://t.co/wWAR0p1n8v
— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) August 31, 2014

@1sidewalkballet in Nanaimo? bad joke? inc. max allowable density to a Floor Area Ratio of 12 & increase the max allowable height to 114.3m

— CityHallWatch (@CityHallWchVAN) September 4, 2014

Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland @DIALOGvancouver

This is what the South Downtown Waterfront Initiative visioning statement means when it says that the site, done right, has the potential to be truly transformative for Nanaimo...

Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland http://t.co/J2KQtG6G7t #dialog
— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

Just incredible #GranvilleIsland mural taking shape via @designboom http://t.co/QR9GEe7XCN @Van_Biennale @OsGemeos pic.twitter.com/avoXcvFjls

— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

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Rushing hearings the Shock + Awe of RE Dev. No time for citizens to understand,organize. @wisemonkeysblog

@1sidewalkballet Rushing through hearings is the Shock and Awe of RE Dev. Will not allow time for citizens to understand and organize.
— Wise Monkeys (@wisemonkeysblog) August 26, 2014

@wisemonkeysblog @1sidewalkballet also there's an election Nov 15th in #Nanaimo as well. Will public forget if rezoning is rushed through?
— CityHallWatch (@CityHallWchVAN) August 26, 2014

@wisemonkeysblog @1sidewalkballet Similarly #Burnaby is holding a Public Hearing Tuesday Aug 26th on 53-storey tower http://t.co/60o7j5aNPh

— CityHallWatch (@CityHallWchVAN) August 26, 2014

Afraid so @CityHallWchVAN Associated park giveaway + sweetheart land deal might get their attention @wisemonkeysblog http://t.co/grkYHwOg0A
— TheSidewalkBallet (@1sidewalkballet) August 26, 2014

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Georgia Park on #Nanaimo downtown waterfront in the 50s. Theres a proposal to lease it out to a Hilton hotel development

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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From @archpaper —Michael Van Valkenburgh’s new Toronto park is a stormwater treatment plant in disguise

Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) has taken its talents up north to Canada with the new Corktown Common park in Toronto. The 18-acre public space—which is part of the burgeoning, 80-acre West Don Lands neighborhood—was created with Arup and developed by Waterfront Toronto, the government-funded corporation spearheading the revitalization of the city’s waterfront. Tead more: A/N Blog . Michael Van Valkenburgh’s new Toronto park is a stormwater treatment plant in disguise

— @jen_keesmaat in Own Your City — In Complete Communities Pedestrians Take Precedence

Post by The Sidewalk Ballet.

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Sneak peak at some @IslandFerriesca concept drawings...

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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email to Larry Beasley, Former YVR Chief Planner re: Development Threat To Nanaimo Waterfront Park

Larry Beasley

From: Frank Murphy 
Subject: Nanaimo's downtown waterfront park
Date: August 16, 2014 at 7:52:47 PM PDT
To: larrybeasleycm@gmail.com
Cc: David Witty, Wally Wells, Pam Shaw

Hi Larry, contacting you from Nanaimo assuming I have your correct email address. I attended and very much enjoyed your presentation here earlier this year as part the exciting South Downtown Waterfront Initiative the leadership of which, as you know, Dave Witty has skillfully assumed. I’ve been posting developments of the Initiative and examples of waterfront revitalizations that have happened or are happening elsewhere at

http://nanaimocommons.blogspot.ca

I remember how taken you were with our wonderful downtown waterfront public areas of promenades, park areas and the array of uses including the boat basin and residential units that integrate with the public sphere. I, and most Nanaimoites love and value highly this brilliant community asset.

There has been a development which threatens this parkland that I thought you would like to hear about. There’s been for the last number of years a derelict construction site — at the top of the hill near the lagoon, if you recall that area. The developer has now come forward with a proposal to build a 35 storey 300 room hotel on the site. The massing is considerable: FAR of 12. The proponent says they have a bit of a problem: their project is too big for their site. Rather than scaling back the size of the project, they have applied for a lease of the adjoining parkland allowing them to build loading docks and restaurant patios and a “grand staircase” down to the waterfront. They also proposed, and have received Council approval, to purchase a thin strip adjoining their site which was designated “lane-way". They propose to contribute to the cost of upgrading another large portion of the park to serve as an extension of the hotel’s grounds.

This has come in front of Council here in the sleepy days of August and Staff are recommending Council use the Alternative Approval Process to meet the requirements to seek voter assent to privatize parkland.

These links will take you to the Staff report presented to Council and an editorial in one of the local papers that addresses some concerns.

http://nanaimocommons.blogspot.ca/2014/08/proposed-hilton-hotel-to-council-monday.html

http://nanaimocommons.blogspot.ca/2014/08/nanaimo-hilton-still-exists-only-in.html

I fear that before people realize what’s at stake, we could loose a large portion of our beloved waterfront park.

Your thoughts and counsel would be very much appreciated.

— Frank Murphy

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