The City of Vancouver has unveiled its proposed new concept for the land under the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts based on input from stakeholders and an open ideas competition. The public is invited to view this new concept for the viaducts and provide their feedback at upcoming open houses. Staff is expected to report to council in July 2012.

The viaduct issue has been contentious as it weighs some urban benefits against the idea of using valuable public resources to tear down infrastructure that has not reached the end of its useful life.

Key Points of the Concept:

• Removal of Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts
• Georgia Street connection to Pacific (combined with Expo Blvd.)
• New bike lane connections, including option for bike lane on W. Georgia Street
• Approx. 850,000 sq ft of development potential (likely residential) between Quebec and Gore St.
• 10% increase in park area

Have your say at Public Open Houses:

Tuesday, June 5
4:00 – 7:00pm
Woodward’s Atrium
111 West Hastings

Thursday, June 7
3:30 – 6:30 pm
Creekside Community Centre
1 Athletes’ Way

Saturday, June 9
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Central Library Promenade
350 West Georgia

Source: City of Vancouver

TransLink considers selling property to raise funds.

TransLink is revisiting a plan to sell assets, like the Oakridge transit station, to fund its operations, warning that while such a move is not sustainable long-term, it beats cutting much-needed transit services.

The move has surprised regional mayors — who warn it’s a “slippery slope” to take — but CEO Ian Jarvis said selling the centre and moving it to a new location could bring in $220 million. Without the sale, he said, the beleaguered transportation authority would have to rely on its surplus reserves, which would likely be depleted by 2014.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/TransLink+considers+selling+property+raise+funds/6668897/story.html#ixzz1vnTAliB6

Home listings double in Dunbar since last year.

With more than double the number of listings from last year, homebuyers on the West Side can apparently afford to take their time.

The number of homes on the market in the Dunbar area is up almost double from this time last year, according the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Board president elect Sandra Wyant said the increased supply means buyers have more time to shop around.