28 June 2006
Waterfront Stadium Hearing Draws Large Vancouver Crowd
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The new stadium would be built over the railway tracks along the
Vancouver waterfront.
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Vancouver British Columbia - Dozens of speakers lined up
Tuesday night to tell Vancouver city council why a proposed soccer stadium should not be built on the city's waterfront next to Gastown.
It was the first public hearing on the plan by the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer team for what could become a 30,000-seat
venue above the waterfront rail lines.
The new stadium would be built over the railway tracks along the Vancouver waterfront.
Carol Sil of the Gastown Residents' Association was one of more than 90 people who signed up to speak to city council.
She said the stadium is not a good fit for the neighbourhood, would "dwarf the historical buildings" and disrupt the lives of
Gastown residents.
"The proposed stadium is to be built 12 feet from residents' homes. Imagine trying to get to sleep or getting your children to
sleep with a concert, soccer game or festival taking place literally outside your door as often as 80 nights during the course of the
summer."
City staff members have identified five issues with the Whitecaps' proposal, including lack of access to the site and the proximity to
hazardous goods carried on the rail lines.
Whitecaps spokesman Bob Lenarduzzi told council those concerns will be addressed, and he argues that polls show there is strong public
support for the stadium.
"This strong public support reinforces what we believe, that this location north of Gastown and next to the transit hub is the
right place for the stadium."
Only a few of the many speakers who signed up got a chance to speak, delaying the vote on the controversial plan until Thursday at the
earliest.
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