May 29, 2006
Architects demand waterfront plan
VANCOUVER
Two of Vancouver’s leading architects have joined efforts to derail plans for a 16,000-seat soccer stadium on the waterfront.
Arthur Erickson and Bing Thom are speaking as Vancouver’s city council prepares to deal with the stadium proposal next month.
The Whitecaps soccer team wants to build the 2.4-hectare stadium over part of the rail yards in the area.
Erickson and Thom say they think the proposed location would fail to link Gastown and the waterfront, and would have a negative impact on heritage buildings in the area.
They called for Vancouver city council to delay any decision on the stadium until a comprehensive plan for the area is commissioned.
Erikson says without a proper plan for the area council “might as well throw away” all the good work that has been done in Vancouver to properly develop the waterfront and ensure the public has access to the area.
Thom says a comprehensive plan for the whole waterfront is needed because “this is our last piece of undeveloped waterfront and we cannot allow it to be developed piecemeal.
“We haven’t had a plan for the waterfront for 20-odd years. This is the last piece of waterfront we have and we shouldn’t alienate it. We have to be careful.”
He says Vancouver is evolving from a port and distribution centre into a city based on intellectual industries.
“We will have to think carefully about how we are going to make that evolution. We don’t have any more land and I don’t want Vancouver to sell itself short,” says Thom.
All the waterfront land between Canada Place and Main Street has been bought by Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot, who hopes to open the stadium in 2009 if city council gives approval.
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