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Van artist Pari

».under the spotlight.

NEWS photo Neil Lucente

ASIX-YEAR-OLD Evan Chandler gives new meaning to creative play as he shimmies up the sculpture ‘‘Cathedral’’ at Waterfront Park in North
f Vancouver. The North Shore’s recent Indian summer weather has had residents flocking to local parks and beaches.

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Residents steame
orth Van Ismaili

for

RESIDENTS IN the Capilano area adjacent to the old
Lions Gate Tennis Club on the north side of the Upper
Levels Highway are banding together to fight what they say
is an inappropriate use of the facility and a development
proposal that they maintain would funnel unacceptable
traffic flows through their neighborhood,

Pamphiets have been circulated
in the North Vancouver District
neighborhood showing plans to
renovate the defuact tennis club
into the Lions Gate Ismaili Centre.

According to the pamphter, the
facility is ccrrently being used
part-lime as a “community cen-
tre” by the local Ismaili popula-
fen.

But ares residents suspect that
the building at the
Gladwin) Drive and Pemberton
Avenue is actually being used as a
mosque and say the owners aren't

corner oof

ity PEGGY TRENDELL-WIHTIAKER
News Reporter

being up-front about the planned
use of the building.

“We kind of feel they are going
to try to bring it inounder our
noses,” said Wayne Gilbertson of
Terrace Avenue. HD somebody's
Iving to me now, ure they going to
fie taste later?”

North Vancouver District social
pkinner Rupert Downing said
Tuesdity the site is currently zoned

for commercial and recreational
use, but added that the district
granted an accessory to the zoning
Jate last year thar allows religious
meetings two evenings per week,
on the condition that the building
not be used as a consecrated place
of worship.

Since then, one complaint has
been received by the district. Tt wits
made fast week following — the
distribution ef the pamphlet

outlining the proposed renovations.

According to Gilbertson, ene of
the residents’ main fears over the
development is increased tral tic
with a resulting Toss of
neighborhood character.

“Rivht now it's not bad be
they can get in off the highway,’

d Gilbertson,

Bat he said he has seen one
highway department proposal cail-

Use

OV

ing for the eventual closure of the
Lloyd Avenue exit, which cond
mean all craftie for the conumuntts
centre would be routed along
Gladwin Brive.

Highways ministry spokesman
Louise Graham said Tuesday ne
plans are in the works te close the
Lloyd Avenue access, but thar in
the fong range a number of options
will be considered for the exit.

According to: Downing, ae ap-
plication for development on
rezoning has yet been received: by
the district for the tennis chub
building. although he sass oie is
expected. Should the owner wis
tO use The SHe cis ad mosque. the
goning would fave fo be changed
to “pubhe assembly 7 canine
thar does nor differemune between
religious and recreational usigee,

But Gibbertsan said ated

EC

r plan
ntre

residents would still be concerned

about the proposal even if the
building was only used as ia com-
munity centre,

“Tt doesm’t matter what thes put
in there, if the highwas's going to
be blocked off it’s going to be a
problem... People are concerned
about having drastic changes made
by a group of peeple whe don't
live here.”

The building is owned by the
nuinbered company 332390) BUC,
ltd... whose president and director
is Amin Lalji of West Vancouver.
Phrough a family ef companies. he
and his brother Shiraz Lali have
other holdings in Vancouver which
include the Arbutus Village Shopp-
ing Centre and the Delta Phice
Hon’,

Palp did aot return News’ phone
calls to press time Tuesdays -