February 2022 Newsletter
March 3, 2022
 Celebrate Strathcona is set for Saturday, June 11 in Strathcona Park. We have a permit to use the entire park that afternoon. The event will include a mass picnic with food trucks, many fun workshops and activities sponsored by local groups, followed up with live music and dancing. We figured that, after the last two years, we could all use a big, fun community celebration. Click here for more details. But to make this happen, we really need a little help from talented residents. I know you’re out there. Specifically: Promotion. We’ll need help designing posters, banners, and hand-outs. We also need help distributing these. Event Management. It would really help to be able to get some direction and assistance from an experienced event organizer. If you possess any of these talents, your community would really appreciate whatever help you can contribute. E-mail Dan at sra@strathcona-residents.org. ST. PAUL’S HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION UPDATE The SRA met with PCL, the lead contractor for the new St. Paul’s Hospital, on Jan. 11 for an update on construction activity in the next six months. Excavation, which has been ongoing since November, is expected to continue through May. Through at least March, it will continue 24 hours a day during the week in order to reduce traffic congestion, carbon emissions and the overall duration of the work. Trucks enter through the National Ave. gate in a circuit to eliminate backup alarms. PCL is making every effort to keep these trucks off Prior St. So far, so good. In March, they will tie into the existing storm drain, which will involve running lines under Prior St. As with recent BC Hydro work, one lane of traffic will remain open in each direction throughout. Structural work will begin in late February, with the installation of the first of four tower cranes. Concrete will start arriving soon after, using the National gate and the same circuit strategy to minimize noise. Main St. and Terminal will remain the preferred access routes. There are currently around 130 workers on site. That number will rise to 500+ by fall. PCL has arranged for parking and shuttles to encourage the use of public transportation. If you have a complaint, concern or question, you can contact PCL directly using their Project Hotline at (604)335-2669. Leave a message, and they will respond within 24 hours. CALMING PRIOR STREET The Prior Street working group met with city staff on Feb. 10 to get an update on the pilot project to reduce traffic volume and speeds. The city recently collected data to compare to data collected 2019 and 2020, which roughly shows a roughly 20% decrease in volume and a 20-40% decrease in driving over the speed limit, depending on time of day. The city is planning a few minor tweaks (a ramp at Campbell, extending the 30kph so it includes the community garden). Bigger ticket items on our wish list, which are outside the budget for the pilot, include: Improved more visible speed reader boards at Gore, Raymur and added to Heatley Amber flashing pedestrian crossing solar powered lights at Vernon on Venables , and, at Princess on Prior. Additional ART trailer (or concrete barriers) placed on southside of Prior east of Campbell Robust measures to calm Campbell traffic speeds Pedestrian kerb adjustments at Campbell/Prior intersection City staff is preparing a follow-up memo to council. We’re hoping it includes recommendations to fund these additional improvements within the next few years. In March, the city will be launching a Strathcona Traffic Calming project to assess problems and solutions on all our residential streets. They will be asking for resident’s input soon. Stay tuned. AIR QUALITY MONITORING PROJECT The Air Quality monitors have arrived and the process of finding hosts will begin within the next month. We’re preparing info sheets which we will send out once they’re ready. In the meantime, we’re still looking for residents to host monitors as part of both this and a concurrent UBC study. Click here for details. We’ll be hosting a virtual meeting of our Air Quality Working Group in the coming weeks to discuss their role in the project (we need a few citizen-scientists to keep an eye on the data and research health effects and mitigation options). If you would like to host a monitor or receive an invite to that meeting, e-mail AQProject@strathcona-residents.org. OFF-LEASH AREA IN STRATHCONA PARK From Darren Miller (1/26/22); We are still in the process of determining next best steps for the proposed temporary fence within the existing off-leash area at Strathcona Park. We will reach out as soon as we know more. Darren.Miller@vancouver.ca HEATLEY OVERPASS The demolition of the Heatley Avenue overpass, which connects the port yard to Heatley Street, is planned to take place between March and September. The Port has submitted a request to extend work hours to include nights and weekends in order to complete it on schedule. They are inviting public comment until Mar 14. For more info, click here. 456/495 PRIOR ST. RE-ZONING REQUEST Our letter of concern went out. Thanks to the 56 residents who co-signed. Here’s the reply from Liefka Vissers, CoV Planning. Staff are currently compiling feedback from internal and external stakeholders, including that which we’ve received from you. This feedback will guide the staff report and recommendations to Council in advance of public hearing. Please do let residents know that should the project be referred to Council for consideration at public hearing, notices will be placed on the site signs, and notification will be mailed to neighboring residents. Further, folks who have already commented on the project using the Shape Your City site will be contacted with information regarding how they may provide further feedback to Council in writing in advance of public hearing, and how to appear at public hearing to speak to the item. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions about the rezoning application and process. Leifka.Vissers@vancouver.ca  If you appreciate these communications and know some MailChimp or WordPress – or have any interest in managing our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account, the SRA would love your help. Contact us at sra@strathcona-residents.org Copyright© 2022, Strathcona Residents Association, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Want a friend to subscribe? Forward them this email and tell them to visit: https://strathcona-residents.org/membership/ |