4 — Friday, July 30,

1993 — North Shore News

ing the resuit of a bad col

GARDEN OF. BIASES

‘I DRIVE past the West Vancouver Memorial Library almost daily.

‘Well,’’ I thought happily a month or two ago, ‘‘the walls have been built, the basic structure _is complete, and it won’t be long now until the $5-million expan- sion, which will add almost 37,000

_ Square feet to the existing 20,000 square feet and thus almost triple the size of the existing library, is finished.””

Never mind that you can’t believe that I’ve memorized those statistics and that I also think in whole sentences, you skeptic. You

, underestimate the journalistic

‘minds

Anyway, I waited breathlessly .— oh, maybe J cheated and snuck a breath every two or three days

— for the walls to be completed.

‘And waited, |

And waited.

And waited. — .

Then the horrible truth dawned, as if after a night of bad whiskey in a strange town.

“It is finished, :

The truth is bitter, -;

Yes, fellow citizens of Greater Tiddlycove, what. you’re secing is what you get. "| '

- Those lovely walls of grey con-

crete — Bunker Grey, I believe it is — are not waiting for some- thing gayer to ce placed over them.

Weill, when you stop to think about it, grey concrete makes sense, doesn't it?

I mean, we need something to relieve our eyes from the blinding, dazzling light that characterizes West Vancouver's rainy season, which lasts only 14 months per year.

Don’t we?

And there’s the practical aspect: the library could quickly and cheaply be converted to a prison once the Non-Democratic Party (I’ve borrowed that name from a disillusioned one-time NDF func- tionary, John Twigg, who was then-premier Dave Barrett’s press secretary) starts rounding up vio- lators of Bill 33, one of its pieces of Star Chamber legislation.

Now, don’t think I’m enjoying writing this. Not as much as you're enjoying reading it, at least.

No, I'm truly dismayed about the appearance of the new wing of the library.

The existing library has some- thing of a.warm, West Coast, even slightly Polynesian design.

The new part simply doesn’t fit — except for the shake roof, which I normally love but in this case seems a painful mismatch.

OF course this is all a matter of taste. And one West Vancouver resident, Rex Bromfield, wrote a letter to the editor of the North Shore News last month, ap- parently in the belief that a stone facade was in the works, arguing that “‘bare concrete does exactly the same job.””

Well, there's a citizen who’s on the side of grey. I hope mast West Vancouverites agree with Mr. Bromfield.

Because I really take no pleasure in complaining about this.

A whole lot of wonderful,

‘dedicated and enthusiastic people : threw themselves into the expin-

44 The library could quickly and cheaply be converted to a

prison .

sion project.

It’s been a tremendous com- munity-builder. People gave gen- erously of their time and talent, including professional people of high reputation.

The fundraising was stunningly effective. I especially single out, because I know her as both jour- nalistic colleague and friend, the beautiful Kay Alsop, who hit me up for a bigger donation than a man with five children, five cars _ ; and five bicycles (not counting the: kids’) can afford. But I’m sure there were many like her.

The result, though, looks like something that only a disputatious committee could dream up, a compromise no one fully liked.

Mayor Mark Sager put a posi- tive face on it: ‘I don’t want to distract from the effort and energies that so many people put into making this a reality.”

aD

Our muscular mayor also maintained that it’s too early to

* judge the final effect, which will

be enhanced by garden beds along the front placed by parks board manager Erik Lees’ expert crews.

“*We should withhold judgment until we sec tle plantings, the mayor said. And he emphasized that the interior is what counts, and it’s splendid.

Another benefit is that the library will bring back its 25,000- odd books currently in overflow storage at Hillside School.

All well and good, but I’m obliged to declare that the new wing is the best argument for ivy — the faster-growing the better — that I’ve seen in a long while.

Call me tasteless, but I’m chagrined at some of the archi- tectural changes in our affluent community — not just the library extension but also the sight that

use

greets visitors as they enter West Vancouver. Which, not to be too subtle about it, looks to me like a 20th-century reproduction of a 1Sth-century Venetian bordello district.

eoe :

And speaking of mistakes, ] correct two of my own: recently I referred to the classic U.S. court case refuting the old ‘‘separate- but-equal’’ race policy as Brown vs. Kansas City Board of Educa- tion.

In fact the defendant was the Topeka, Kansas board.

[also referred to the Pendergast Gang of St. Louis, Missouri, but —- although this infamous Demo- cratic Party machine eventually reached out over the whole state — it originated in Kansas City, Missouri. i

To add to my mortification for having long had these errors in my head, i’ve mislaid the letter from a North Shore reader who helpfully pointed them out.

I thank that reader and assure him that his letter will eventually turn up, and he will get a personal note of gratitude.

What’s Happening In Your District

Council for the District of North Vancouver will consider rezoning 1 of lands located at che exit road from Parkgate Civic Centre to provide a vehicular exit east of the Parkgate Civic Centre onto Mount Seymour Road. A Public Hearing is scheduled to provide an opportunity for Council to hear from those who believe their interest in property may be affected by changes to this bylaw, as outlined below. 1

Date: Time: Location:

7:00 p.m.

Tuesdzy, August 10, 1993 l

Council Chamber (Atrium) of Municipal Hall,

355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, B.C.

BYLAW 6537 “Rezonii Applicant: Subject Lands:

re

The Corporation of the District of North Vancouver Lot 4, District Lot 622, Plan VAP23161

(Exit Road from Parkgate Centre)

Proposed Amendment:

Purpose: Seymour Road

Subject Ares

Existing Zone Houndary

Singte-Tamuly Kessential One Acte Zone Comprehensive Development Zone 4 _Comptebenwse Development Zane 16 Park, Recreation and Open Space Zune

WwonTH eu 07 93

MOUNT

eo

IAT SETHOUR PARKWAT

a ae eee Ee

To eliminate the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Zone (PRO) from a portion of the site. To provide a vehicular exit through the treed buffer east of the civic centre onto Mount

{il |

Po]

MOUNT SEYMOUR ROAD.

pa

All persons who believe their interest in property may be affected by the above proposal will be afforded an opportunity to be heard in person or by written submission. Written submissions will be accepted up to the conclusion of the Public Hearing. This Public Hearing is held under the provisions of the Municipal Act. Copies of the bylaw, resolutions, supporting staff reports and any relevant background material are available for review at the District of North Vancouver

Legislative Services Department, Municipal Hall, 355 West Queens Road Planning Department, Annex, 253 East 14th Street (off St. Andrews Avenue)

Monday through Friday, except Statutory Holidays, July 28, 1993 to August 10, 1993, inclusive, between the

hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. July 28, 1993

Colleen G, Rohde

Manager” Legislative Services

For ‘more information contact Planning Dept. 98 7- 7131

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RIERA SEES

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