Editor:
Following up on Mr. Dale Price's letter of concern regarding the proliferation of condo highrises in the downtown, Brentwood area.
Burnaby council must pay attention and appreciate the extent of density they, and outsider developer lobbyists, are forcing upon many hundreds and thousands of existing local residents; together with the gridlock, and substandard highrise housing conditions affecting all North Burnaby citizens in the future if these go ahead.
The immediate proposed dense increase in the West Brentwood area; adjacent to Lougheed and Gilmore, of 12 more highrises is ludicrous. Already thousands of new units are coming on line with little chance of being sold. An example being at the intersection of Gilmore and Lougheed of hundreds of new units hanging over the sidewalk, with increasing uncontrolled noise, and pollution of airspace by density and traffic.
Burnaby council would be well advised to revisit, and to remember, the city's stated vision to its citizens: "to creating and sustaining the best quality of life for our entire community." This is obviously not the case! Highrises spaced a hundred feet apart, with a few sparse trees and footpaths, is no "quality of life."
Consideration would be better given to low-rise development of existing older, and some vacated properties; with more services and community resources; with more adequate, open greenspace, to serve all residents.
Again, after this, more dense highrises are planned for the Buchanan Street area at Willingdon of great concern to residents and the housed elderly with no visibility of open space.
Concerned citizens should express their disapproval before, and at the upcoming spring planned council approval of these and other planned monstrous and unhealthy developments; as well as to prepare for environmental density problems for everyone before they happen.
Alan Miller, Burnaby
