Where’s the outrage?
Neil Salmond takes on the Tsawwassen First Nations proposal for Tsawwassen Mills:
It came as quite a shock to me that such a classic suburban mall could be built, on undeveloped agricultural land and in the second decade of the twenty-first century, as we battle the high economic and environmental costs of fossil fuel dependency. … Shopping malls, single-use zoning, car-dependent communities and low-density sprawl are relics of an age now past. And yet this is the plan for south-west Metro Vancouver.
Two things surprise:
How can the First Nations leadership on one hand say:
“Tsawwassen First Nation would develop its land in a way that fits into the broad plans” of Metro Vancouver, including the non-sprawl, sustainability goals of the region. Chief Kim Baird is quoted in that article: ”Yes, we’ll develop our lands. But don’t forget, we live there, too. We want to do it right.”
… and then produce this crap?
And where is the outrage (or at least a sense of irony) from the residents of nearby Tsawwassen who fought so hard to stop Sean Hodgins’s proposal for the Southlands (Spetifore property) which made a sincere effort to pioneer sustainable agriculture and development, and funded extensive community involvement?
The site is, in essence, in Delta.
Delta is the antithesis of “urban”.
Whether it’s the preservation of farmland, the resistance to traffic, noise or industry, I couldn’t imagine anything “tall” and “dense” being built in Delta, it would be out of character with its surroundings.
Most of the outrage is has already been spent by the throngs of people who have been waiting in the border lineup since 6h30, waiting to enter the land of milk and honey and drive on to the real deal outlet malls on the way to Seattle.
I can’t say that it’s a huge surprise, though it’s a touch disappointing. On the positive side, it’s another handy item to keep on file when Vancouverites speak dismissively of Calgary.
-D
Ron, D: what if TFN built something more inspired by this: http://www.corp.delta.bc.ca/assets/CPD/PDF/public_forum_presentation5_hodgins.pdf
If there was residential onsite, where daily needs could be met by walking, there might be justification to connect to transit.