Businesses, residents divided over White Rock parkade plan
A long-planned parkade near the main drag of White Rock’s West Beach is on its way to becoming a reality, much to the chagrin of many neighbours and the relief of nearby businesses.
The proposal is for a five-storey, 280-space parkade on a city-owned site on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Vidal Street that’s comprised of four properties — two are occupied by a paved pay parking lot, one has a house and one is vacant.
The estimated cost is between $9 million and $13 million. Construction is expected to begin next year.
According to Mayor Wayne Baldwin, a parkade has been planned for that location since the mid1990s and it’s been in the last four or five official community plans and five-year financial plans.
“It’s not a surprise,” said Baldwin. “We have the land, we’ve owned it for a while, it was purchased for that purpose, so I think the best thing to do is to follow through on it.”
Baldwin said the parkade is badly needed to alleviate the parking issues that plague the area when the weather is nice. It hasn’t been built yet because the money hasn’t been there, but millions in community amenity contributions from recent developments now make it possible to build.
“The borrowing isn’t going to cost the taxpayers a cent. It will be replaced by community amenity money as soon as it comes in, so no borrowing charges or interest,” said Baldwin.
The parkade is not good news to those who live nearby. About 40 people protested in front of city hall during a land use committee meeting recently.
Roger Bockstael, who was at the protest, lives in a condo building across the street from the parkade site. He bought his home 1½ years ago.
“Had I known, and shame on me for not doing a little more research, I wouldn’t have bought there,” Bockstael said. “I’m not by any stretch a political activist, but I’m a little bit passionate about this because it’s going to affect my way of life.”
His main concern is safety. He believes that traffic will be “a zoo” on nice summer days and emergency vehicles will have trouble accessing the area.
Bockstael also believes noise, light and air pollution from the structure will be an issue.
Gillian Parkin, who lives just to the north and will overlook the parkade, said the scale of the project is “unnecessary and hurts too many people.” She said she heard from a number of people at the rally who said their views would be blocked. She said a more modest structure would be a happy medium.
Bockstael’s not optimistic his concerns or those of other residents will be heard.
“I’m convinced the city will not stop their plan for the parkade there. It’s too integral a part of their overall plan,” he said. “They’re just going to do what they always do and put it in place, regardless of what the people think.”
A public hearing on the proposed parkade is expected to take place in September.