FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013
Vol. 104 No. 56 • Established 1908
Gastown Grand Prix 25
WEEKEND EDITION
THE VOICE OF VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS
NEWS: Tao of Chow 7/ OPINION: Vision’s epic fail 10
Mayorwon’t voteonPt.Grey bikelanes MIKE HOWELL Staff writer
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photo Jason Lang
TANGLED UP IN PLASTIC: Photographer Michael J.P. Hall examines our disposable culture and waste
plastic in his exhibit “Entanglement” at Science World. See story page 22. Scan page with Layar for a video.
Summer patio takes off in Gastown STANDALONE PATIO FIRST OF ITS KIND IN VANCOUVER CHERYL ROSSI Staff writer
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ancouver’s first standalone patio opened in front of Rainier Provisions liquor-licensed coffee shop and deli on Carrall Street at West Cordova two weeks ago. With its lime green, squash yellow, plum, peach and tomato-hued wooden pickets, the 30-seat patio is a fresh sight on a sometimes-gritty street. Sean Heather of the Heather Hospitality Group says the city and the provincial liquor board wouldn’t previously
license patios that weren’t set apart from a restaurant, but the presence of a fire hydrant or manhole cover could thwart plans for an immediately adjacent patio. “It’s a pilot project and if it works, then it will open up opportunities for other people around the city to put patios,” Heather said. “In this weather, if you don’t have a patio, you’re not getting a lot of people sitting inside.” The city will assess how well the standalone patio has worked at the end of the summer and when its licence comes up for renewal in a year. See TRIAL on page 4
ayor Gregor Robertson will not vote this month on whether the city should proceed with cycling and pedestrian upgrades along the Cornwall-Point Grey corridor. That’s because Robertson recently purchased a home in Kitsilano within a block of York Street and wants to erase any doubt that he could be in a conflict over the upgrades. “In recent weeks, the mayor apprised senior staff, including the city solicitor, of this property transaction and they were requested to provide advice and a legal opinion on any possible conflict that the mayor might be in with regard to future decisions of council related to the Point Grey-Cornwall bike corridor,” said a statement issued by the mayor’s office Wednesday. “The city solicitor has informed the mayor that there is no legal conflict with voting on matters related to the Point Grey-Cornwall bike and pedestrian safety upgrades at this time. However, out of an abundance of caution, the mayor informed the city solicitor he will be recusing himself from voting on the upcoming ... project. The city solicitor will review the final staff report on the project and provide any further advice to the mayor on this matter as required.” The mayor’s office issued the statement after a blogger posted information and a link to a realty company’s site that revealed Robertson’s house, near 25th and Oak, was for sale. The statement said the mayor is selling his house, which is listed for $1.9 million, because his family is downsizing now that his children have graduated from high school. Council is expected to vote later this month on cycling and pedestrian upgrades for the Point Grey-Cornwall corridor. Documents on the city’s website show potential upgrades running from the Burrard Bridge to Jericho Beach and include a combination of separated bike lanes, wider sidewalks, street closures and removal of on-street parking spots. The city hasn’t set a date for the vote, although it is anticipated for the week of July 22. The plan has been divisive and included heated public meetings and street protests. One group, which includes former city councillor Peter Ladner, favours a city-designed option that would mean significant upgrades for cyclists and pedestrians along Point Grey Road. Other residents have called for the vote to be delayed. mhowell@vancourier.com