Impact of Olympic exposure on Vancouver

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by sacrifice333

Interesting study by an Olympian...

I quoted the above study upthread, and yes, its is probably the most realisitic of any I've seen.

Some posters here obviously feel that a couple billion is worth that "feel good" factor. Personally, I'd rather have had the Evergreen Line built (in addition to the Canada Line).

[mrjauk]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

well it went from 17 million visitors prior to 2002 to 20 million visitors post 2002 not a huge increase what 4%? or so

i think the point is all olympics do is increase tourism numbers which will help business maybe not in a driect way but we'll take it

No, I think you didn't understand my point. The year 2002 was a bad tourist year US-wide and it's very likely that tourism in the whole of the US increased by at least 4% post-2002. If that was the case, then the Olympics had NO net impact on tourism in SLC.

You have to compare SLC to a baseline number in order to impute some causality to the Olympics themselves.

[SpongeG]

i get it - thats the numbers the utah tourism woman used - she seemed to say they never had higher numbers before the games and the state was extremely happy with the increase

[Locked In]

Interesting (and long) article about the many sides of Vancouver - I think it's probably a year or so old though:

Source: A Tale of Two Cities - The Vancouver you see, and the one you don’t by Gary Stephen Ross on the Walrus Magazine website

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Locked In

Interesting (and long) article about the many sides of Vancouver - I think it's probably a year or so old though:

Source: A Tale of Two Cities - The Vancouver you see, and the one you don’t by Gary Stephen Ross on the Walrus Magazine website

It is not a year old; it is clear that it was written much more recently (as it refers to the Canada Line having opened "last summer" among other clues).

Decently written article with some true observations.

[delboy]

Originally Posted by Locked In

Interesting (and long) article about the many sides of Vancouver - I think it's probably a year or so old though:

Source: A Tale of Two Cities - The Vancouver you see, and the one you don’t by Gary Stephen Ross on the Walrus Magazine website

I enjoyed that article. He really hits the nature of vancouver on the head. I like this quote:

I’ve associated Lila with Vancouver — younger than she seems, less sophisticated than she might like, undeniably radiant, proud to be attracting attention but not quite sure how to deal with it, a little self-conscious as the first complications of maturity settle upon her. You can’t help but marvel at her good fortune, her beauty. You admire the earnestness of her endeavours. You envy the wealth of her possibilities.

You wonder what she’ll become.

[harls]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Of course, this is coming from a person who feels places like Ottawa and Hull [...] should be one city

That would be like spreading margarine on your toast and calling it butter.

[wrenegade]

Have people really noticed that much of an increase in police/military presence? The road closures are a pain in the ass, but seriously, it's one frickin' month. I've seen some helicopters here and there, but it's not as if there are a dozen buzzing the city 24/7. The only place I've heard of increased military really is up near Whistler, up the Cheakamus Creek FSR. I've had a couple friends detained and escorted by gunpoint for skiing off the backside of Whistler (down an area called Cakehole) because it drains onto that FSR (they trigger motion sensors in the forest), which ends across the creek from the Whistler Olympic Village. Apparently skiers looking for untracked pow are a massive security threat.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by awvan

Have people really noticed that much of an increase in police/military presence? The road closures are a pain in the ass, but seriously, it's one frickin' month. I've seen some helicopters here and there, but it's not as if there are a dozen buzzing the city 24/7. The only place I've heard of increased military really is up near Whistler, up the Cheakamus Creek FSR. I've had a couple friends detained and escorted by gunpoint for skiing off the backside of Whistler (down an area called Cakehole) because it drains onto that FSR (they trigger motion sensors in the forest), which ends across the creek from the Whistler Olympic Village. Apparently skiers looking for untracked pow are a massive security threat.

Well, it's probably easier to carry out an attack by coming in from untracked ski territory.

[GeeCee]

There's definitely a large police/private security presence around Canada Place..

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Well, it's probably easier to carry out an attack by coming in from untracked ski territory.

While I suppose you're right, the likely-hood of a non-local being able to successfully finding their way down the cakehole without either falling off a cliff or triggering an avalanche is pretty much nil. It seems like the security is overkill there.

I am quite surprised to have not seen any Navy presence yet. I guess they cane make it here pretty quickly just coming from Esquimalt, but still.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by awvan

While I suppose you're right, the likely-hood of a non-local being able to successfully finding their way down the cakehole without either falling off a cliff or triggering an avalanche is pretty much nil. It seems like the security is overkill there.

I am quite surprised to have not seen any Navy presence yet. I guess they cane make it here pretty quickly just coming from Esquimalt, but still.

Well you never know...that's the whole point of security precautions.

I believe there are navy ships in the Strait of Georgia right outside of Burrard Inlet.

[GeeCee]

There have been divers at Canada Place for the security sweeps this past weekend - not sure if they are RCMP, Coast Guard, Navy or whoever. The boat appeared unmarked.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Did they give everybody who had bought at a high price their money back? This was on the market years ago, and I do believe several phases sold out.

If not, I don't see what the problem is. If so, why would they ? It's not like it was behind schedule.

The only thing losing money here is the exorbitantly priced social housing, at over double the rate of "normal" social housing.

If I remember correctly, the pre-sales were made to buyers knowing that they wouldn't be able to move in until after the Olympics were over.

With the US market melt-down and the financing controversy of the Athletes Village, pre-sales slowed down (along with the rest of the Vancouver market), so Rennie decided to stop actively pushing sales until after the Olympics. I recently received a "Visit us if you're in the neigbourhood" email from them, so they are quietly doing sales during the Olympics, just not doing so much advertising.

I've heard that with so many unsold units still available, they will be sold after the Olympics in stages over 3 to 5 years - depending on the health of the local market.

Then there's the unanswered question of whether the over-budget and unaffordable social housing units will be sold as condos, with the profits (if any) to be used to build other social housing units nearby. I won't expect those decisions until after March 2010 when all the Olympic visitors & IOC delegates go home after patting VANOC on the back for "The Best Olympics Ever".

[SpongeG]

i've been seeing more boats in the waters that look to be police boats the cameras i haven't nnoticed until i saw the report on CNN this morning now i will know where to look

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by awvan

Have people really noticed that much of an increase in police/military presence? The road closures are a pain in the ass, but seriously, it's one frickin' month. I've seen some helicopters here and there, but it's not as if there are a dozen buzzing the city 24/7. The only place I've heard of increased military really is up near Whistler, up the Cheakamus Creek FSR. I've had a couple friends detained and escorted by gunpoint for skiing off the backside of Whistler (down an area called Cakehole) because it drains onto that FSR (they trigger motion sensors in the forest), which ends across the creek from the Whistler Olympic Village. Apparently skiers looking for untracked pow are a massive security threat.

I work in Richmond and we see (and mostly hear) CF-18s doing regular patrols or exercises a few times a day. One day last week they were going all day.

I know from the inside that the military is in the lower mainland in a big way, but they are doing their best to remain hidden from the public and the media. They are ready to go if anything happens though.

[SpongeG]

the americans - i wonder how much they have up here?

they set up a large operation in bellingham should anything go wrong they will be close to the border and have a command centre to deal with it

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

With the US market melt-down and the financing controversy of the Athletes Village, pre-sales slowed down (along with the rest of the Vancouver market), so Rennie decided to stop actively pushing sales until after the Olympics. I recently received a "Visit us if you're in the neigbourhood" email from them, so they are quietly doing sales during the Olympics, just not doing so much advertising.

I've heard that with so many unsold units still available, they will be sold after the Olympics in stages over 3 to 5 years - depending on the health of the local market.

I heard something like 200 sales out of 1200-1400(?) units.

The city definitely needs to be able to sell it all at market prices to have a chance of saving their financial skins.

In order to save their political skins they need to replace the social housing with even more units somewhere else.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I work in Richmond and we see (and mostly hear) CF-18s doing regular patrols or exercises a few times a day. One day last week they were going all day.

I know from the inside that the military is in the lower mainland in a big way, but they are doing their best to remain hidden from the public and the media. They are ready to go if anything happens though.

• Video Link




I saw a pair of war birds near UBC the other day, and I've seen military helicopters regularly too.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I work in Richmond and we see (and mostly hear) CF-18s doing regular patrols or exercises a few times a day. One day last week they were going all day.

I know from the inside that the military is in the lower mainland in a big way, but they are doing their best to remain hidden from the public and the media. They are ready to go if anything happens though.

Just hang around the 4100 block West 4th. You should have no problem seeing lots of camouflaged uniforms (if they want you to see them)