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THE VOICE of VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS
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MIDWEEK EDITION
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013 Vol. 104 No. 45 • Established 1908
CONTEST: Filmmakers wanted for Courier contest 6 OPINION: B.C. Liberals’ strange smarts 10
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Agingfirehalls eyedfornew rentalhousing NEW NO. 5 HALL AT 54TH AND KERR COULD INCLUDE APARTMENTS MIKE HOWELL Staff writer
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photo Rebecca Blissett
GETTING AN EARFUL: A young attendee at the third annual Vancouver Mini Maker Faire tries out
a giant headset made out of speakers, wheelbarrows and melted records, Sunday, June 2. The faire, held at the PNE Forum, is a two-day celebration of making and creating, with origins in San Francisco.
s the City of Vancouver looks for innovative ways to build affordable housing, the city’s aging fire halls are being eyed as potential sites to incorporate renters with firefighters. The city already has one such complex planned for the redevelopment of the No. 5 fire hall at 54th Avenue and Kerr Street and it could serve as a model for future projects. “I would consider it for any new fire hall,” said Mark Engler, deputy chief of operations for Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, who recommended rental housing be included in the redevelopment of No. 5 hall. “The city just can’t afford to spend millions and millions on just a fire hall.” Engler pointed to fire halls at Main and Powell, Hamilton and Smithe, Haro and Thurlow and the main hall at Heatley and Prior as being located on “prime valuable land.” It would only be prudent, he said, to think about adding housing to future redevelopment of the properties, many of which are located in neighbourhoods dominated by highrises. The next hall up for redevelopment is at 55th and Knight but Engler said the location is not ideal for housing because it’s not close to many amenities and it’s on a noisy strip. As for the No. 5 hall, Engler said its proximity to Champlain Mall, bus routes and a nearby community centre make it “a perfect spot” for housing. But, he said, the department has made it clear to city staff that the design and needs of the fire hall come first and housing, second. See FIRE HALL’S on page 4