Granville Island Updates

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

How can the be selling the loop if they turning it into a bike/ ped path?

It looks as those the bike path will run along a straightened section of 5th Ave between Granville and Fir. With the traffic loop removed their will be a nice developable piece of land, just like at the north end of the bridge. According to City Hall Watch, the SW loop is not under the jurisdiction of the Parks Board as the land within the former SE loop is.

...The existing land is not a part of Granville Loop Park (located on the east side of the Bridge), nor is it managed by the Parks Board. This land is a part of City’s Property Endowment Fund and, given the City’s stated goal is to raise revenue from its lands, and its development plans for the north-side cloverleaves, the public is rightly concerned that the City will try to sell this land for development, instead of keeping it as the park and avian rest spot that it is today, for this park-deficient neighbourhood. This concern is supported by the language used in the Connector Report...

https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/...ctor-analysis/

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

It looks as those the bike path will run along a straightened section of 5th Ave between Granville and Fir. With the traffic loop removed their will be a nice developable piece of land, just like at the north end of the bridge. According to City Hall Watch, the SW loop is not under the jurisdiction of the Parks Board as the land within the former SE loop is.

...The existing land is not a part of Granville Loop Park (located on the east side of the Bridge), nor is it managed by the Parks Board. This land is a part of City’s Property Endowment Fund and, given the City’s stated goal is to raise revenue from its lands, and its development plans for the north-side cloverleaves, the public is rightly concerned that the City will try to sell this land for development, instead of keeping it as the park and avian rest spot that it is today, for this park-deficient neighbourhood. This concern is supported by the language used in the Connector Report...

https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/...ctor-analysis/

The final version, yes, apologies I thought you were referring to the interim plan which uses the loop roadway.

As per your comment, "First time I've heard of them wanting to sell off the southwest loop for development. Sneaky but that seems to be what the bureacrats think the best use of the bridge is for."

I don't know who besides that blog post suggests selling any public land.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I also noticed "Truck volumes are limited because of weight restrictions." Is this a reason why there isn't a plan to have the Arbutus streetcar / tram / lrt travel across the bridge?

IIRC weight issues also killed the centre span option.

More importantly though, I have no idea how they'd get the streetcar onto the bridge from Arbutus, or have it run down Granville without being a bigger nuisance than the Newton-Guildford plan.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

IIRC weight issues also killed the centre span option.

More importantly though, I have no idea how they'd get the streetcar onto the bridge from Arbutus, or have it run down Granville without being a bigger nuisance than the Newton-Guildford plan.

I could see it crossing to the middle of Granville St. from say 6th or 7th Ave. (or maybe under the loop) in a tunnel with a portal in the middle of Granville on the steep slope leading to the bridge.

I'll bet the bridge could be strengthened - the question would be cost (ie cheaper than a new transit bridge or tunnel, but too much for a ped/bike path).

[whatnext]

Tough times for businesses on Granville Island. I'm surprised more locals aren't taking advantage of the lack of tourists to enjoy a less hectic visit.

Granville Island businesses continue to struggle with lack of tourists, government aid
BY PAUL JAMES
Posted Apr 11, 2021

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The opening of a massive, youth arts education centre on Granville Island Saturday may not be enough to breathe life back into the struggling tourist destination, according to a business leader.

While the prospect of hundreds of students flocking daily to the Arts Umbrella programs does have property manager David McCann excited, he says most businesses are bringing in between three and 30 per cent of pre-pandemic revenue.

Only two out of 15 are bringing in more than 50 per cent.

“One of them I understand which is Roger’s Chocolates because you know people are indulging themselves, and the other one is DragonSpace I guess partly because people are buying puzzles and stuff for kids,” he says....

https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/04...ness-struggle/

[Vin]

Lee's Donuts is probably enjoying 110%. Just go any time of the day and see the long lineups. I wonder why they didn't report on that.

[SpongeG]

Parking is even free. At least the time I went a few months ago it was. But it was definitely quiet.

Having nowhere to sit and eat also doesn't help, so for me anyway, there was no point buying food to eat despite being hungry.

[officedweller]

Pay parking is back May 1st.

[jollyburger]

The reason:

Where we would expect parking to be abundant due to the current travel restrictions, we are instead experiencing a high level of vehicles parking without supporting businesses on Granville Island. From employees of surrounding neighborhood businesses, to multiple groups parking to only ride their bikes along the seawall, and boaters gone for days and weeks at a time. This, unfortunately, has resulted in a lack of parking near the Public Market for shoppers, the docks for kayak, paddle board rentals and patios, and the artisans, restaurants and shops across the Island.

[TwoFace]

Once they start charging people huge amounts for parking again, everyone will come back and businesses will thrive LOL
In other news, the parking on Robson street should triple in price to attract a better clientele.

[cov]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

Once they start charging people huge amounts for parking again, everyone will come back and businesses will thrive LOL
In other news, the parking on Robson street should triple in price to attract a better clientele.

there is no doubt that spatial resources like parking should be properly managed to maximize benefits. Free doesn't always lead to the best results. A nominal fee during busy hours should deter free-riding.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

Once they start charging people huge amounts for parking again, everyone will come back and businesses will thrive LOL
In other news, the parking on Robson street should triple in price to attract a better clientele.

They're charging $1 an hour, $2 on weekends

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by cov

Free doesn't always lead to the best results. A nominal fee during busy hours should deter free-riding.

It was 3 hours free and the area flourished, once CMHC brought in pay-parking throughout the Island (prior to covid) ALL the merchants were complaining about lost traffic and declining revenues.

What they should be doing is cancelling all pay parking and slashing existing leases by 30%
It will have zero effect on the projected national trillion $ deficit, but will save businesses and bring back interest in GI. The way things are now, it will be dead-zone in no time.

[casper]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

It was 3 hours free and the area flourished, once CMHC brought in pay-parking throughout the Island (prior to covid) ALL the merchants were complaining about lost traffic and declining revenues.

What they should be doing is cancelling all pay parking and slashing existing leases by 30%
It will have zero effect on the projected national trillion $ deficit, but will save businesses and bring back interest in GI. The way things are now, it will be dead-zone in no time.

The business that are struggling would qualify for the rent subsidy that can cover up to 75% of their rent payment. The ones doing better would not get the subsidy.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by casper

The business that are struggling would qualify for the rent subsidy that can cover up to 75% of their rent payment. The ones doing better would not get the subsidy.

They weren't eligible for some programs but the feds did provide some money to GI to help cover some losses/rent assistance.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...-survival-plan

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

It was 3 hours free and the area flourished, once CMHC brought in pay-parking throughout the Island (prior to covid) ALL the merchants were complaining about lost traffic and declining revenues.

What they should be doing is cancelling all pay parking and slashing existing leases by 30%
It will have zero effect on the projected national trillion $ deficit, but will save businesses and bring back interest in GI. The way things are now, it will be dead-zone in no time.

Yeah they were all millionaires when they had free parking. The reason there is zero interest in GI is because most of the shops on the island are junk.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

weren't the large majority of Granville Island visitors just tourists? i don't know anyone, personally, that was a local that actually went there on a regular basis.

[SpongeG]

I go a couple times a year, mostly to get fish and chips at Go Fish which is really on the island. Other than that I would go if out of town people were visiting and we would go.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Go Fish and the Public Market are good, but I'd be hard pressed to call them "visit regularly" good. Definitely not if you can't walk or bus there.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

weren't the large majority of Granville Island visitors just tourists? i don't know anyone, personally, that was a local that actually went there on a regular basis.

All the locals go in the morning when the parking is free to buy something from the market. Most of the shops probably made their income during the tourist season.