But 55% of area residents oppose new soccer stadium
John Bermingham
Province
A consultants’ report shows strong support for the
proposed 15,000-seat Whitecaps soccer stadium among Lower Mainland and Vancouver residents.
But people who live in the immediate vicinity — Gastown and the Downtown Eastside — are narrowly opposed.
The consultants found that, overall, 67 per cent of people responding to questionnaires support the stadium and 27 per cent are opposed.
While 82 per cent of Lower Mainland residents and 75 per cent of Vancouverites give it the thumbs-up, 55 per cent of nearby residents give it the thumbs-down.
Whitecaps president John Rocha said it confirms the strong support he found in previous polling.
“It continues to be very supportive,” said Rocha. “Obviously, in the specific Gastown/Downtown Eastside area, it’s more split.”
Jon Stovell, spokesman for the Gastown Neighbourhood Coalition, said stadium supporters don’t realize the negative impacts on the neighbourhood.
“They’re really just signing on for a motherhood thing about a downtown stadium,” he said.
In a separate technical review of the stadium proposal, consultants had concerns about the location over CP Rail tracks, and the negative impact on surrounding areas. They also had design and heritage concerns, but concluded the project could work with major changes.
“Every project has issues,” said Rocha. “We feel that those issues can be addressed. The project can work.”
Stovell said the review shows the waterfront stadium just doesn’t work on the current site.
“All the people clustered around it are seeing major issues with the urban design,” he said.
“As long as the stadium is built on decking over the tracks, it’s got fundamental flaws.”
The coalition is to present an alternative plan for the area to city planners on Friday, suggesting a mixed-use condo development.
City of Vancouver planner Kevin McNaney said about 1,500 people have given their views on the stadium.
“The response rate was extremely good, especially given this was a pre-application process,” said McNaney.
“I think there’s a lot of interest.”
City staff are working on the final report, which will be released this month.
McNaney said the two technical reports only provide technical background.
“They do help to inform where staff are going with things,” he said.
The $100,000 cost for the consultants was fronted by the Whitecaps.
The initial review goes before council in mid-June.
© The Vancouver Province 2006
