Metrotown needs a residents association, according to Burnaby First supporter Rick McGowan, and he wants to be the one to start it.
The longtime Metrotown citizen is organizing a group designed for “anybody who calls the Metrotown area home” in an effort to lobby for better services and infrastructure in the area. He said having a unified voice in the Metrotown Residents Association would send a stronger message to local government about the needs in the community.
“When I look at other parts of the city where good things are happening, a lot of those places have residents’ associations or business improvement associations,” he said, referencing the Burnaby Mountain Residents Association and the Heights Merchants Association as examples. “We don’t have an advocate for the Metrotown people.”
McGowan said one of the biggest issues in the town centre is increased density and affordable housing as highrises dot the Metrotown skyline and provide fewer options for low-income residents and renters. While some developments include rentals, McGowan pointed out that those units may be designated for high-income residents, effectively outpricing low-income citizens and forcing them out of Burnaby.
“We’re not seeing any affordable rentals built for rentals coming online in the near future,” he said. “We’re losing citizens.”
Other concerns include local business promotion, community stewardship, public safety and homelessness. While membership to the MRA requires a B.C. driver’s licence, identification card or recent utility bill, McGowan said the group is open to Metrotown’s homeless population.
“They deserve a voice in Burnaby,” he said. “I know organizations like ACORN are concerned about affordable Wi-Fi, which is something that a residents association can advocate for better than individuals.”
McGowan criticized the city-appointed community development committee for the ongoing development in the town centre and said it could use some input from Metrotown citizens before forwarding development proposals in the area to council.
“They’re making suggestions and putting things forward for Metrotown and no one actually comes from that area,” he said. “We need a voice and we’d like to see representation on different committees.”
The Metrotown Residents Association will hold its first meeting at the Bob Prittie Metrotown library on Friday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in more information can email McGowan at [email protected].
