Passed! At city services and budget committee meeting December 3rd 2010
WHEREAS on March 25, 2010, Council approved a motion from Mayor Robertson to
request a staff report on the feasibility of a number of Olympic Legacy projects
including opening Granville, Robson and Mainland Streets to pedestrians, a public
square on the west side of the Art Gallery and a permanent streetcar line.
WHEREAS on April 6, 2010, Council approved a subsequent motion from Councillor
Cadman to refer the issue of opening Robson Street to pedestrians on weekends as
part of the Olympic legacy.
WHEREAS in November 2010, prior to the staff report on Olympic Legacy project
opportunities being received by Council, Councillor Anton put a notice on motion
requesting that staff consult with affected parties regarding a public square at 800
Robson Street.
WHEREAS it is anticipated that in the next month staff will be reporting on a
permanent “Open Streets” program which Council approved on February 4, 2010, after
the report on the 2009 “Summer Spaces” program, a pilot of temporary pedestrian
openings for streets on weekends, and subsequently reconfirmed when the 125th
Anniversary report was received.
WHEREAS Rediscover Granville was a highly successful summer long closure of
downtown Granville Street in 2010 that built on the Olympic Legacy, and work from
the 2009 Summer Spaces program, to provide a public space in downtown Vancouver
which the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, the Downtown
Vancouver Association and other organizations would like to see continued.
WHEREAS as part of the Greenest City 2020 mobility goal, staff are working on a report
expected to come to Council in January regarding public spaces in downtown to
support greater walking, biking and transit use.
WHEREAS it would behoove Council to see the results of these reports to understand
the total public realm plan for downtown Vancouver, and their potential impacts on
stakeholders, before providing direction to consult on any one item.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council request staff to continue their work on
reports already requested and that the results of these reports be collated into a
Downtown Public Spaces Plan – including, but not limited to, permanent summer
pedestrian openings of Granville Street, a major public square at 800 Robson Street, to
coincide with Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary with intention to meet an April 2011 date,
and temporary weekend closures of Robson and Mainland Streets – which stakeholders
can be consulted on.
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