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By BILL BELL

Architect George Koslowski’s dream of
building.a thin house in West Vancouver became
considerably thinner Tuesday as West Van

Tel. 985-2131

Classified'986-6222

MLA‘S HOUSING CRISIS SOLUTION

" council moved to expropriate his property.

Koslowski accused
council of . discriminating
against his property by virtue
of. shape. Koslowski’s
property, located at 6290 St.
Georges Crescent, is 20 feet
by 700 feet.

West:- © Vancouver
municipality - contends the
property was never intended
to ‘be built on when the
subdivision was approved in
1948. It was used as a site for
a system of sewerage and
drainage works.

Koslowski disputes this
contention and points out he
has already given the
municipality an adequate
easement for drainage and
sewerage.

“Expropriation is not
necessary to the interests of
the municipality. The ad-
joining properties are
presently serviced, drainage
is well established and the

Increasing cloud. Chance ol
showers later In the day.

MONDAY)
Unsettled trend continuing.

municipality's sewer is in the
ground,” Koslowskisaid. —
The power of council .to
expropriate should not be
abused. We suggest that the
real purpose: for this ex-
propriation is to prevent our
house from being built,”
Koslowski charged.
However, Alderman
David Finlay told the North
Shore News council had
nothing against thin houses.
“It is the right of the
public to expropriate when it
is in the best interests of the
majority. I’ve never seen the

plans to this thin house, but I _

do like innovative housing.”
Alderman Finlay said.

Complicating the issue is
that West Van had owned
the property in question, but
sold it in 1958.

“It might seem strange
that West Van would sell it
and then tum around and
expropriate, but I don't think
it is. We must protect the
rights of the public.” Finlay
said.

Asked what the next step
would be, Koslowski said he

intended to pursue the
matter in the courts.

“We will fight = ex-
propriation,” Kos lowski
said.

In an interview with the

News carlier this year,

Koslowski said that he felt
had
the son of

the thin house he
planned was

design necessary to make

housing affordable for young

people in West Vancouver.

But neighbors in the arca
have been opposed to the
proposed building ever since
thé plans became public.

By CHRIS LLOYD

North Vancouver Capilano MLA Angus Ree
offers two solutions to the housing crisis facing
the North Shore and Vancouver areas — move up
North if you can't afford to live here, or start B.C

on the road to recession.

He sees the housing
problem as a dilemma
created by B.C.’s booniing
economy, which lures 50,000
new residents to the
province each year. But he

ot

does not see it as the
province’s responsibility to
house everyone who comes
here looking for work and
though he points out that a
B.C. recession would ease

a *

KEEPING A CLOSE EYE on the conductor, Wen Van

opening of thelr season Wednesday evening at West Van High School. The “Homecoming Concert” was held to
welcome back members of the band who recently toured Scandinavia. (lan Smith photo)

Band

the pressure on housing, it is
not a solution he cares to
contemplate.

‘I don’t know what young
family people are going to
do, :to tell you the truth,” he
says. “They can't afford the
housing now.”

As for his own govern-
ment taking action, he rules
out intervention, saying he is
against government housing
and subsidies except for
seniors and other low in-

“f

a

come groups and that
housing should be left
strictly to the private sector.

It is government controls
which have upset the
market,” he maintains,
referring to the policies of
the former NDP govern-
ment.

To people caught up in
today’s market, wondering
how to cope with prohibitive
property prices and a zero
CONTINUED ON PAGE A4

4 4 {od a

members carefully watch his every direction at the

ee

hing Every Door on the North