Every morning it seems The Columbian is reporting yet another apartment building going up in downtown Vancouver. Yesterday it was the Hurley project with 170 housing units and 9,080 square feet of restaurant or retail spaces and 142 total parking spaces (18 on the street). Not enough for residents, much less a second car, guests or business customers.
Today’s story was another Waterfront building: 177 housing units and 184 parking spaces. Seven residents can have a second car, or a visitor. Both buildings will have a second-floor courtyard which, I suppose, will allow the well-used tax exemption, but I doubt the public will have access.
Local businesses must expect to serve only those who live downtown since parking availability is shrinking by the day. Why is there no plan for farther-flung citizens or visitors to do more than drive through the area? Where will the new bridge fit? How will I-5 and Highway 14 handle the massive increase in traffic? Does the city council have any actual long-term plan or are they only focused on packing as many people as possible into the downtown/waterfront area?
