Damian Inwood
Province
Yaletown’s David Lam Park will be transformed into a 2010 party plaza as part of Vancouver‘s $23-million Olympic “live-site” program.
And about 1.6 million people are expected to attend two downtown Vancouver Winter Games plazas, says a report going to city council Tuesday.
David Lam Park and the old bus depot site at Georgia and Beatty streets will be alcohol-free zones with big-screen TVs, entertainment stages, food outlets and sponsor villages, says the report.
But officials admit the neighbourhood could face noise and disruption. “There will be a lot of . . . impacts on daycare facilities, schools, businesses and the movement of goods that will occur, as well as noise and so forth,” said Dave Rudberg, the city’s Olympic co-ordinator yesterday. “These are all issues to be worked out with the residents and the business owners as we go forward.”
The two plazas will be linked by a “historic trail” along Hamilton and Mainland streets and will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the 17-day Games, says the report.
The Beatty Street site will have a capacity of 10,000, with up to 13,000 at David Lam Park.
City taxpayers will pay $5 million toward the project, with a further $10 million coming from the federal government.
Another $5.9 million will come from merchandising, food and beverage licensing and rentals.
Both venues will have a fenced security perimeter and gates will have airport-style bag-screening devices.
The live sites will have 24-hour remote video-surveillance cameras, closed-circuit monitoring, and surrounding streets will also have video surveillance, says the report.
“We have to plan for a high level of security and, hopefully, we won’t need as much as we plan for,” said Rudberg.
Council will be asked to approve $200,000 to draw up a detailed plan due early next year.
Salvatore Gallo, who co-owns Yaletown Gelato and Espresso Bar, said he won’t be bothered by the upheaval.
“I like the buzz you get from a lot of people,” said Gallo, who has lived at Homer and Davie for 10 years and who walks his dog at David Lam Park. “We have the jazz festival there every year.”
But he said street closures could get annoying and parking will be “hell.”
Annette O’Shea, executive director of the Yaletown Business Improvement Association, was delighted by the news.
“We are very excited,” she said. “Yaletown has been looking at ways of getting involved with the Olympics and this puts us right in the middle of it.”
She said the neighbourhood stages the one-day Yaletown Street Party every year, which attracts between 40,000 and 60,000 people.
“We’re seeing the Olympics as an opportunity to have 17 street parties in a row in February 2010,” she said. “When you bring in 40,000 to 60,000 people to play, everyone wins — restaurants, bars, residents and school kids.”
© The Vancouver Province 2007
