Nice weather could pave way for two-way traffic on Main Street

If you’re ready to drive southbound on Main Street in downtown Vancouver, pray for sun this weekend.

City operations workers must paint new traffic and parking lines before the street can be opened to two-way traffic.

And that means no rain.

City officials announced Thursday they would try to get the job done Saturday. The work started three weeks ago with removal of some curbs and planters.

“Right now, Saturday looks pretty good,” said Bill Whitcomb, Vancouver deputy transportation manager. “We’re hoping the weather holds on and we will be able to do the work.”

If the work occurs as scheduled, Main Street will be closed to all traffic from Sixth Street to 15th Street, except for emergency vehicles. Intersections and east-west streets, as well as sidewalks, will remain open. Parking will not be allowed after 5 a.m. Saturday.

Whitcomb said he suspects operations crews would try to work around any cars that remain, instead of immediately calling for a tow truck.

At the end of painting, one-way signs will be taken down. New signs will alert drivers and pedestrians to changes.

The project also includes installing new traffic signals. Recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast have delayed equipment delivery, but the signal work will be completed when it arrives.

The project has been long sought by area businesses and residents. Some have noted that Main Street currently leads one way: out of town.

Broadway, one block east, was converted to two-way traffic more than a year ago. Both streets had been one-way for decades.

Source: The Columbian

Mount Pleasant Community Planning Workshop

The Community Plan will address four residential sub-areas ( see Map ). North Mount Pleasant and Central Mount Pleasant are apartment zones; and South Mount Pleasant and West Mount Pleasant are duplex/infill zones. Residential Areas Workshops will be conducted in the fall of 2008 to discuss topics like character and heritage, greening opportunities, park and school ground designs, walking and biking routes, local traffic issues, safety and cleanliness, and housing issues including problem premises, affordability, and design.

Workshops are organized and hosted by City staff. They occur on weekends, and refreshments are provided. At each workshop participants will receive background information in an interesting way and then they work together in small groups to develop ideas and options.

If you are interested in attending a Residential Area Workshop, please download and fill out the RAW form (PDF, 45KB) or fill out the RAW form online.

Residential Areas Workshop
Sunday, November 16, 2008
12 noon - 5 pm
Native Education College
285 East 5th Avenue

For more information, call Rachel Harrison at 604.871.6608.

Call for proposals to save Mt Pleasant heritage homes

BC Hydro has purchased land on West 6th and Alberta to construct a new substation that will provide extra power for the growing Mount Pleasant and False Creek areas as well as act as a backup for Downtown.

The two Heritage homes at 304 and 316 West 6th are on the assembled land and were purchased last year. They are designated as Heritage C and can be demolished, however BC Hydro would prefer not to do that. Instead, Hydro is asking for proposals for anyone interested in buying the homes and moving them.

Interested parties can view and inspect the homes from 10 AM to Noon on November 12 and the deadline for offers is by Noon on Friday, November 28th.

Vancouver Sun

Mount Pleasant Cheese Specialty Store

I just discovered that Mount Pleasant has a new Cheese store that is already cornering the market after just a few short months of being open. Sporting Canadian flags, this cheese shop is offering the best of the best and is now home to 150 high quality Canadian cheeses. See what Martini Boys have to say about the Mount Pleasant Cheese specialty store at 3432 Cambie St.

Mt. Pleasant Community Projects Ongoing

Dear SCG Members and Working Group Leaders;

1) Social Coordinating Group

It time again for our monthly Social Coordinating Group meeting - Native Education College (285 5th East Ave).

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Regular SCG Meeting #4

The Agenda: basically we will be hearing back from the four working groups on what they have been doing since April 8th. As SCG members you will be asked to comment on possible ways that you can help the working groups overcome any outstanding issues and concerns so that they can continue to move forward to develop and implement the local action plans. We have some new community faces coming out this time!

Pizza and refreshments will be served again, so if you have any allergies please let me know that when you RSVP back so that I can better meet your needs. Thank you. (please include your phone number).

2. Neighbourhood Clean Up

May 10, Saturday, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon

A small, but very dedicated, group (Carolina Group) is hosting their annual neighbourhood clean up (10 years plus), and we are all welcome. Please let me know if you need more information. Hope to see some of you out this Saturday. Dana's cell 318-7460 (604). We are meeting up at Carolina and 11th Ave E.

3. Community announcements - of the Social kind

If you have an announcement(s) about an event or program that relates to the work that the SCG is doing and you want to share it with others please let me know. I am posting events to the Mount Pleasant community site to better keep us all in touch (an earlier suggestion made at a SCG meeting). http://www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/cpp/mountpleasant/social/index.htm and look under "Spotlight"

That's it for now

====================

Dear Mount Pleasant CLG members,

Hi, everyone. We have scheduled our fifth meeting of the Mount Pleasant CLG for:

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Native Education College
285 East 5th Ave. (at Scotia St.)

Since our last meeting, we have completed Shopping Area Workshop (SAW) #1, with over 50 people in attendance. Participants divided themselves into groups according to the existing shopping area in Mount Pleasant they wished to discuss:

1. Uptown (Main: 7th to 16th; Broadway: Ontario to Guelph; Kingsway: 7th to 12th )
2. Broadway West (Ontario to Yukon)
3. Broadway/Fraser (Guelph to Prince Albert)

Following a site visit to the shopping areas, ‘creative sessions’ were held, facilitated by urban designers, to find out key concerns and aspirations held by workshop participants. Posters with potential options/directions and maps were used to encourage discussion and record people’s ideas. We are mailing you a draft transcript of the workshop (i.e., posters with comments, along with photographs of the maps produced by the groups).

Our CLG meeting will review SAW #1 results, and introduce the tasks for SAW #2 (taking place on May 25th; attached is a poster advertising the event). These tasks involve using criteria suggested by workshop participants, along with criteria contained in City policy, to begin evaluating the options which emerged from SAW #1. The CLG meeting will also touch on our preparation for the residential workshops beginning in the fall, the consultancy for a land use and urban design study of Main St. (2nd to 7th), and the work being done by the Social Coordinating Group.

If you are unable to attend this meeting, please call Angela Ko at 604.871.6598 and let her know. Thank you in advance for coming to the meeting.

Yours truly,

Peter Burch
Planner
Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program (MPCPP)

Mount Pleasant and City of Vancouver Work Together

Tuesday evening the Native Education Centre hosted the City of Vancouver Mount Pleasant Planning Group Open House. The Centre offers a nice cozy atmosphere, a fireplace to gather around, and the individuals involved in moving the project forward - city employees, consultants, and volunteers - put on a tremendous display covering all areas of concern for our neighbours.

Civic Planning determines construction and real estate development, transportation infrastructure, and so much more. Heritage is a strong and visible presence in the architecture - not only of the physical houses, but also of some neighbourhood aesthetics as well. The redefinition, exploration, and updating of the register, along with creating new forward-thinking policy that encompasses other areas of historical, cultural, arts, and possibly other areas of significance.

Social Programs are also key to a city such as Vancouver. With a diverse history, a rough history, being a port city and a city that has long been considered a transient population - it's always moving. This has left much decay, and brought to bear influences that have corrupted many spirits as they struggle with their demons. Correcting the cause and effect that leads to these tragedies is challenging to city resources, and a detriment to our communities and neighbourhoods. To ignore it would be our peril. The Social Action group requires involvement and support to bring about empowering change.

Donald Luxton & Associates have worked long and strenuous hours with reams of paper, research, interviews, and writing. The Mount Pleasant Heritage Working Group is benefiting from the wealth of history compiled, and the expertise and dedication to preserving, enhancing, and planning for Heritage Strategies.

Mount Pleasant Active Citizens

Mount Pleasant Vancouver continues to show itself to be a hot-bed of actively involved citizens. From seniors living at the Cavell Gardens, to other residents renting, owning, living and working in and around the Mount Pleasant community, many are involved in various ways to promote, educate, and create a better future for all who live, work, and enjoy Mount Pleasant.

Cavell Gardens General Manager, Marjorie Bungay, hosts and administrates one very active senior living centre. Cavell Gardens is committed to providing today's seniors with a lifestyle choice that gives them the freedom and independence they seek through a variety of amenities and services in a secure, affordable residential setting. Cavell Gardens not only delivers this committment, they have also encouraged active and involved lifestyles.

The Cavell Voices is a residential newsletter contributed to by both staff and residents. With a wealth of historical and personal knowledge and experience, a number of the more vocal and creative residents contribute fantastic stories, informative stories, and other useful general information. The LivingInMountPleasant.com team is grateful for their active participation in sharing the history of Mount Pleasant, and for the active involvement of a few members in the Mount Pleasant Heritage WorkGroup and City of Vancouver Planning.

If you are interested in Cavell Gardens for your aging lifestyle, visit Cavell Gardens website (best viewed via Internet Explorer) for more information. If you are interested in volunteering with the seniors, contact Cavell Gardens directly to determine fit and opportunity.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve and all through the city, the shoppers they bustle and hustle from mall to mall, with motorists tooting and hooting with fumes of ire.

It is a great season for fun, family, friends, and celebration. Preparation has been fun, catching up, sharing good cheer, buying gifts for those we love, and the rare moments in between when we get to sit down and relax, reflecting on the wonderful moments of the season. Time passes quickly, and the team here at StrataXL and LiveIn wish you a happy, safe, and joyous festive season.

Make the moments and memories count. Give and love easily, quickly, and freely. Soak up the Joy!

Happy Holidays Mount Pleasant Vancouver, Strathcona Vancouver, and Commercial Drive!

On a sad note, I know there are some adults and children alike who are fighting this nasty flu bug that is making its' rounds. Eat well, keep hydrated, and rest. We will celebrate together and wish everyone speedy recoveries and happy moments with loved ones.

Who are you going to call that may be spending Christmas alone?

Mount Pleasant Salutes Commercial Drive

Mount Pleasant has Main Street, coining the pet acronym SoMa. Our residents enjoy many of the local offerings, and being so close to the centre of everything we enjoy many of the other Vancouver amenities. In celebration of our neighbours launch of Live on The Drive, we salute Commercial Drive and the wonderful commerce, trade, arts, and community that we so love to experience.

Commercial Drive | Live on The Drive | Community | Web Portal

Commercial Drive, affectionately referred to as The Drive, was originally referred to locally as “Little Italy.” Now it's home to a diverse multicultural collection of people, businesses, art galleries, performance venues, coffee shops, and more.

A favorite destination for both tourists and Vancouver-wide locals, Commercial Drive consists of close to 300 businesses that are most often single location, owner-operated, offering a product mix of dining experiences, produce, entertainment and services completely unique to the Drive. Commercial Drive has consistently bucked the trend towards homogeneous franchised malls and big box warehouses.

With a multicultural diversity and vibrant arts community, The Drive is the perfect fusion of community, art, and commerce. Continue reading...

Getting Information to You

Rick Stonehouse is a Vancouver Real Estate Agent that seems to have been born to the business. Myself, I'm a local writer dabbling in various ways that allow me to contribute to my communities.

Getting behind a vision is an easy thing when values line up.

Rick, a prominent Vancouver Realtor, has enjoyed serving thousands of Vancouver residents over the years. His success, in part due to his service excellence, has been made possible by all of these wonderful customers and friends trusting him with fulfilling their home purchase or sale. Seeing proud homeowners experiencing the joy of buying their dream home, and enthusiastic sellers grinning over the equity gained, makes his job very exciting and very rewarding. His values line up, and yes, he enjoys the fruits of his labours.

With an eye to the future and the trends of the public, Rick has taken a pioneer's leap through the development of community portal websites for the neighbourhoods he serves. While it serves a unique business purpose, helping potential home-buyers with their online research, it goes beyond and serves the entire community. The benefits are extraordinary!

Keep watch as the Live In Mount Pleasant site evolves.