Nasty Little Surprises

Ordinary Metro Vancouver citizens suffer the misfortunes of being residents in an Olympics host city. Here are their stories.

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The Vancouver Park Board announced this week that it has handed over the Coal Harbour Community Centre to the Olympics for “the planning of dignitary visits and for diplomatic events.” Ordinary community centre users can just go somewhere else from January 4 “until some time in April” (if they can manage to deal with traffic restrictions).

Sandra Thomas. “Central Park: Olympics only,” Vancouver Courier (25 Sept 2009) EW07

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The Don Robertson saga continues, and the Olympic imperative moves to the fore. Robertson’s cluttered yard, visible from SkyTrain, appears to have attracted the uneven wrath of Vancouver City inspectors. Rossi reported earlier (3 June 2009) on this situation [see below]. At this stage, Robertson has blocked access to his property and “has erected a tent over his backyard” (Rossi). Hasiuk offers these opinions:

Like the individual rights and freedoms of Vancouverites … Robertson’s “unsightly” belongings must be eliminated. … Robertson is treated like a criminal by a heavy-handed and vindictive bureaucracy.

Mark Hasiuk. “Olympics and right to privacy collide over clutter,” Vancouver Courier, (16 Sept 2009) EW07

Cheryl Rossi. “Case of cluttered property may go to court,” Vancouver Courier, (11 Sept 2009) EW17

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An August 24 letter to residents of the 28-room Golden Crown Hotel at 116 West Hastings Street called for residents to vacate the building for pest control and renovation. On September 3 the City of Vancouver hand-delivered a letter to hotel owner Daniel Jun stating that his eviction notices did not comply with the Residential Tenancy Act. Downtown Eastside Residents Association executive Kim Kerr saw the eviction attempt as possibly motivated by the Olympic market.

Cheryl Rossi. “Rundown hotel complaints prompt activist concern,” Vancouver Courier, (11 Sept 2009) EW10

Doug Ward. “Tenants of Eastside hotel urged not to leave their vermin-infested units,” Vancouver Sun, (9 Sept 2009)

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A University of British Columbia contract for student residences prohibits students living within eyesight of the Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre (an Olympic venue) from posting signage in their windows during the Games period. Vice President Stephen Owen recently responded to an inquiry from the BC Civil Liberties Association about this situation. Owen asserts that the restriction applies only to commercial signage and

does not in any way affect the ability of residents to express their personal or political views.

Time will tell. Owen goes on to point out that VANOC provided about 80% of the funding for the construction of the Centre.

Mark Hasiuk. “UBC sells student freedom for $50 million facility,” Vancouver Courier, (15 July 2009) E07

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Point Grey residents are concerned about a Park Board proposal to create 365 spaces at Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks for RV parking from 8 February to 2 March 2010. Major worries are traffic and noise in a residential area, commercialization of public space, and establishing precedent. If this Olympic accommodation is typical, a public good will be turned to private profit, with the City of Vancouver bearing costs that outweigh revenues.

Sandra Thomas. “Proposed trailer park worries Point Grey residents,” Vancouver Courier, (17 June 2009) EW07

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Way back in 2004 the City of Vancouver made provisions to install new sidewalks and to override usual resident rights to contest such a proposal. Then a majority of objecting residents near the Olympic curling venue wasted their efforts in following standard protocol, the City having failed to inform them that opposition would be useless. Four hemlocks 45 to 60 feet tall have been removed from city property for sidewalk installation. Resident Michael Stepler says: “It’s like the Olympics has taken over our city and the unwanted guest is now saying what we can and can’t do.”

Daphne Bramham. “Special Games resolution on shaky ground,” Vancouver Sun (12 June 2009)

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A group calling itself Concerned Citizens for False Creek North (CCFN) has formed in response to the location of “temporary” emergency shelters at 1435 Granville St. and 1442 Howe Street. Shelter residents are forced back onto the street at 10:00 am each day. Consequences include public defecation and urination on the streets and in yards, hypodermic needles stashed around the neighborhood, open drug dealing, and noise from dogs and police sirens. The shelters are now expected to remain in place until after the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The David Lam Park four blocks away will be one of downtown’s two live sites for the Olympics. Will officials now be trying to clean up their attempt at cleanup?

Sandra Thomas. “Outrage mounts over no-barrier homeless shelters,” Vancouver Courier, (10 June 2009) 4

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Twenty-four of Don Robertson’s neighbors signed a letter and petition supporting his use of his own property to store cars (auto repair is a hobby) and bricks, windows, and beams (to be used in repairs to his house). Despite this neighborhood support, the City of Vancouver is forcing him to empty his yard. A city official stated, “It’s an eyesore for people on the SkyTrain.” Robertson suspects the coming Olympics has motivated the City to get on his case.

Cheryl Rossi. “City ‘sledgehammer’ looms over cluttered property,” Vancouver Courier, (3 June 2009) 1, 4

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Rose Pennington and her husband live near the Killarney Community Centre in Vancouver, a practice facility for the Olympic games. After routinely parking their motorhome in their driveway for two years, they now face a bylaw complaint from the City of Vancouver, supposedly because of a neighbor’s complaint. The Penningtons have lived on their property for 22 years. Fifteen immediate neighbors told Rose Pennington they had no complaint. The official notice indicated that application for an appropriate permit would cost $719. Inquiry at city hall brought a response that there was no chance of approval for such a permit.

Sandra Thomas. “Couple cries foul after motorhome crackdown: Killarney home near 2010 Olympic venue,” Vancouver Courier, (29 April 2009) 1

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Surrey resident Peter Scott, aged 73 and a 16-year veteran of the Canadian armed forces, received a visit from two investigating police officers of V2010ISU because he sent a letter of complaint to VANOC (and provided his return address.) Scott objected to the “Gestapo tactics” of such investigation.

Jeff Lee. “ ‘Gestapo tactics’ used in probe of letter to VANOC, writer says: Surrey resident, 73, claims content was non-threatening,” Vancouver Sun, (24 April 2009)

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Michael Stepler on Peveril Avenue in Vancouver faces a bill of $1285.62 as his assessment for the city’s installing a second sidewalk along his street. Opposed by a majority of residents, the proposal was forced on the neighborhood by the court of revision. Motivation for the sidewalk appears to be anticipated Olympic-related foot traffic to the curling venue near Nat Bailey Stadium.

Sandra Thomas. “ ‘Olympic’ sidewalk boils blood: Riley Park resident cries foul over $1,285 construction bill,” Vancouver Courier (15 April 2009) 12

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