Ian Austin
Province
Bob Chapman and Louise Labuda, who overlook the city’s vehicle impoundment yard at Pacific and Granville, say they hate the late-night noise the yard creates. Impatient residents claim there have been plans for years to move the yard to False Creek but the city has made no move to do so. Photograph by: Jason Payne, The Province
Condo owners near Vancouver‘s impound compound want to give Busters the boot.
For years the city has been discussing moving its bylaw impound yard from under the Granville Street Bridge, where it once was in an industrial area but is now ringed by residential highrises.
“It’s going to happen with the emergence of the residential area around the lot,” admits Busters Towing spokesman Vern Campbell.
“The city owns the lot.
“It really boils down to being in the hands of the Vancouver engineering department.”
Condo buyers were assured the lot was on the move, and checked the city archives to find out the lot’s fate.
“It operates 24/7, and there are car alarms going off all night long,” said Jennifer Myers, whose home overlooks the lot situated under the north end of the bridge. “We did our due diligence, we made sure that it wasn’t just a developer’s promise.
“We all did our homework.”
Their homework showed them the city has been discussing a move to the False Creek flats near Terminal Avenue since 1997, and even voted on a move in 2006.
“They told us it was going to be gone,” said Bob Chapman.
“If a tow truck comes in with a car-alarm going, it sets off other alarms — it’s like a chain reaction,” he said.
While the location is inconvenient for neighbours, it’s convenient for the city and for Busters.
Each morning and afternoon rush hour, Busters clears parked cars ignoring the no-parking signs on nearby commuter arteries such as Howe, Hornby, Seymour and Richards.
“It’s convenient for us and it’s also convenient for the people who pick up the cars,” said Campbell.
But the neighbours are tired of waiting, and have a petition with 250 signatures.
“Everyone knew it was going to take time, but we just didn’t expect it to take them forever,” said Louise Labuda.
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