MAIL Box-——

Get Renshaw into the Gi

Dear Editor: Re: “Get Out a Bit.7 On behalf of the residents, staf? and council of North Vancouver City, | wish to object to the recent Timothy Renshaw column entitled, “Kick-start NV City development” (Sept. 27). Had the author of this piece taken a 10-minute stroll! down the hill trony your offices, he would have noted the following: @ Since 1996 over 470 dwelling units and approximately 56,000 square feet of com- mercial floor space have been built in the Lower Lonsdale area where you say the city should “get on with it.” @ Since cariv 1998 when the city adopted changes to our plan for Lower Lonsdale, the city has agreed to self or lease two sites which were wholly or principally owned by the city. One site on the north side of the 100-block West Ist. Street currently is under construction with a 12-storey apart- _ ment building with retail at street level. A - second site on the north side of the 100- block West 2nd Street is being prepared for construction ofa four-storey, non-mar- é ‘ketre rental apartment building. garding the old Hollyburn Lumber - mes on B00. Brock West Esplanade, the city recently concluded :a detailed review of ~, Proposals to buy this large site, and we are

presently in negotiation with a consortium of developers te allow the rezoning of this 250,000 square foot plus development site. Council hopes to provide a 30,000 square foot centre for recreational purpose as part of this development. This proposal and the city’s plans fora new museum and media arts gallery site have been the sub- ject of considerable public discussion and input, some of which was covered by your own paper, “The Voice of North Vancouver.” B The city has also acquired, at no cost to city taxpayers, a community art gallery space ins the Metropolitan at) 3rd and Lonsdale in which we also propose to pro vide offices for the North Vancouver Communit Arts Council and North Shore Arts Commission, community arts organizations which represent and advo- cate for artists living across the North Shore.

B The city is sensitive to the concerns of

ting residents and businesses in Lower Lonsdale. who have asked that redevelop- ment be staged in a manner that is least disruptive to existing members of the Lower Lonsdale community. For this rea- son and also to. avoid concerns about reducing existing private. redevelopment potential, the city is moving forward with

ty

developments in a methodical and man- aved fashion. @ The city is interested in the redevelop- ment of both the privately owned Versatile site and the Vancouver Port Authority far- ther to the cast, but we have no ability to increase the pace at which they will make this happen. fn the case of the Versatile Shipyard site, the city took the unprece- dented: step of subsidizing the planning study for these private lands in order to get something moving on this derelict proper- Ww On a final note, the city is making 3 sig- nificant investment in renewing the intra- structure of this historic part of our city. Well over $2 million will be spent: to upgrade city services. A major part of this servicing, will aid in the creation of a large urban plaza in the 100-block of West Ist Street. This plaza is currently under con- struction and is named “Jack Loucks Court” in honour of our former mayor. If your writer got out.a bit, he would have the opportunity to sce and comment on these and other city initiatives, rather than bemoaning the apparent lack of progress as viewed from your editorial boardroom. Barbara A. Sharp, Mayor, North Vancouver City

Caprice closure was ‘snobbism’

Sunday, October 15, 2000 — Nerth Shore News - 9

The Silk Purse Gallery

presents

“Real Women”

paintings by E.M. Brossard ~ October 17-29, 2000

1570 ARGYLE AVENUE, WEST VANCOUVER

The North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce presents

crow YOUR

"Breakfast Sete Cheer Restaurant fst Zod St on Van Series Line-up

e-Commerce Toolkit: A How To October 19th, 7:30 am Speaker: Mr. Bill Swansborough Director of Special Projects, Meridex Network Corporation

sponsored by EF

asccom

21st Century Marketing November 2nd, 7:30 am Speaker: Mr. Fred Armstrong Publisher of the 0 Tires

sponsored by

tratrdh

Dear Editor: .. Caprice Royal Theatres are ‘ closing. down, as we are informed. It is rather shocking to me. » This is a second movie theatre “closed... .down West Vancouver’ (first that one on "Marine Drive, between 15th and ° 16th) many years ago. ; How is this possible in one of the. most famous, the richest - + and ‘sophisticated’ districts in the.whole country? ‘The. reasons stated for the. x. Sad affair are mainly: the lack ° of i interest, low. audience vol- ume. ... because the place is old and not: ‘o the modern . standards! -. e - Well, what does that mean?’ ‘is more’: important, ‘good. film or the real leather. eat in the theatre? Does: it. mean that the people of West: Vancouver are more interested inthe interior. of the movie

house than in the films shown;

here? In’ the artistic aspects? Yes, they apparently are!’ -

me, .the reper-

sof: th Caprice Royal

Cinema in West Van did offer

jot only the car chases and a ..

Iét. of shooting” without _rea- sons, but also numercus qual-.

cording to some reports ‘there’is: over $14 billion of © “excess : tax. money sloshing bout : in’. Ottawa.. Yet ‘the Honourable Paul Martin con- tinues to “claw. back” 54.5% of my Old Age Pension ‘and .

TransLink wants to impose a.

= further tax of about $75. q ; ° k* should gO" Ortawa. and. engage in hon- ourable,’ “claw . back.” He

should remember this admo-

“Get your. hands‘ on . the joney. Don’ tcome home without it!” -*

ity films. Looks like the most mod- ern big, fantastic, overwhelm-

ing interior of the cinema _

house is much more impor- tant for the prosperity of such a house...

That is very disappointing to me. And it may confirm for what this part of B.C is often blamed... snobbism. I often disagreed with such an accusa- tion. I was, probably, wrong. |

The citizens of West Van rejected (so far successfully) the change of Park Royal facil- itics for the conglomerate of

_the big stores such as Home Depot and other. monstrosi- ;

ties. But the closure of cinema house probably won't bother them.

’ The best and most valuable culture is not always enclosed by the most sophisticated place where it. is shown. Sometimes the real art is born in. the flousiest’ conditions. About that, the residents of West Van seems to have a little clue. Unfortunately.

= So, welcome you, my friends, to, McDonalds or other stores of South. or Noyth Park Royal Shopping

_ Cenire instead of to the s

by seats of Caprice Theatre.

: And don't forget to buy a dia- -

Packaged Professional Offices

New Owner-New Lock Hourly, Daily, Monthly eek Fully Furnished & & w Receptionist, Telephone, Yolcemall, .:- Word Processtug and Meeting “F . Rooms for 2 to 20 o Oe te ete ke o) - Centrally tocated at 15th & Lonsdal Ouly a few vacancies remain

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192-145 West 15th Street, i ict ca nora sis ap. dhe.

Downstairs Gallery # Presents

| engiish Pubs & Prestch Cafes |

A ‘charming collection of originals by BARB woop » Opening: Saturday, October 21, 10:00 to 4:00.

Show continues until November 30.

a Downstairs Gallery ~ ee a 1425" Marine Dr., West Vancouver ; 926-3525

mond. ring for your wife, who is toubling you for 20 years ....

Viadimir Cicha |

North Vancouver

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